This blog is for posting all news of Rossville residents and Rossville High alumni. Bookmark this page and send any appropriate news (births, deaths, engagements, marriages, anniversaries, job changes, honors, etc.) items to: Frank.Ruff@juno.com .
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It is always difficult saying goodbye to someone we love and cherish. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved Marian L. Kaiser (Rossville, Kansas), who passed away at the age of 94, on August 27, 2022
Even though Cole Schumacher was a key contributor on back-to-back state championship teams at Rossville, he had to start all over again when he joined the Emporia State football team as a walk-on in the fall of 2017.
Emporia State six-year senior receiver Cole Schumacher is excited to have one last season in a Hornet uniform this fall. [Photo courtesy of Emporia State Athletics]
Fast forward to 2022 and the 6-foot-1, 193-pound six-year senior wide receiver is getting set to wrap up a very solid college career that has made Schumacher, as well as ESU head coach Garin Higgins, very proud.
"He's earned everything that he's got here,'' Higgins said. "I saw him in camp the summer before his senior year and thought he did a good job and I remember going to see him at Rossville High School and talking to him about walking on. I think sometimes you can tell whether or not a kid really cares about Emporia State and I could tell that he did at that time and he wanted to be a part of our football sprogram.
"We gave him an opportunity and he's made the best of it.''
Schumacher, Emporia State's second-leading receiver in 2021 with 40 receptions for 406 yards and three touchdowns, is also proud of what he's been able to accomplish in a Hornet uniform.
"As a Hornet one of our sayings, part of our DNA, is, 'We earn everything,' and I really took that to heart and I've been able to earn the things I've been given here,'' Schumacher said. "I'm very grateful for it and it's exciting. I'm very proud of it.''
Steven “Jejak” Lee Michael Martin, 72, passed away August 13, 2022, at Hospice House, Hutchinson, KS. He was born September 26, 1949, in Rossville, KS to Paul “Mook” and Nellie Irene (Gibson) Martin.
Steve was a 1968 graduate of McPherson High School. He graduated from Brown Mackie College, Salina KS, with an associate's degree in business. Steve was a former employee of Farmland Industries, Willbros Pipeline Construction, and retired from Calm Creek Carriers as a truck driver. He was also co-owner of MSI Wireless.
Steve was a family man and loved spending time with his family. He was a proud member of the Potawatomi Nation.
In 1968, Steve married Judy Frickey and they later divorced. He then married, Deanne Smith Bowersox on June 27, 2008, in Hutchinson.
Steve is survived by: his wife, Deanne of Hutchinson; children, Melissa Jill (Brian) Gibson of Owasso, OK, and Paul Jason “Jake” (Kelsey) Martin of Hutchinson; stepchildren, Shaelee (Chad) Mendenhall of Hutchinson, and Jaron Bowersox of Kansas City, KS; siblings, Mary Hudson and Pauline Bickford, both of Rossville, Henry (Carol) Martin of Hesston, KS, and C.D. (Diane) Martin of McPherson; grandchildren, Madison (Matt) Liley, McKinley (Jacob) Rincon, Brennan Gibson, Brighton Gibson, Jadyn (fiancé Dominick Andersen) Martin, Jordyn Martin, Jennalea Martin, Kai Mendenhall, Zayden Mendenall, and Oliviana Mendenhall; and great-grandson, Hudson Liley.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; siblings, baby boy Martin, baby girl Martin, Tim Martin, Paul “Jr.” Martin, and Wally Martin.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at Elliott Chapel with the Reverend Kent Little officiating. Inurnment will follow in Rossville Cemetery in Rossville. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, August 15, 2022 at Elliott Mortuary.
A senior, Alivia Sherer will compete in regular-season matches as a co-op player for Hayden for the second straight season before competing for Rossville in Class 3A-1A postseason competition. Sherer placed ninth in singles in the 2021 3A-1A state tournament last season, becoming the first girls state tennis medalist in Rossville history.
TopSport.News has selected the top high school volleyball players in Shawnee County for this upcoming season. The players selected are Brinley Dyche and Kinsey Perine of Rossville High.
Brinley Dyche,
Rossville
A three-year starter, Dyche, the
Bulldawgs' senior libero, was a unanimous All-Mid-East League first-team pick
last fall. Dyche was credited with 444 digs a year ago while also registering
66 service aces. Dyche is also a standout for the Rossville softball team,
which finished fourth in the Class 3A state tournament this past season.
Kinsey Perine,
Rossville
A junior, Perine was a unanimous
All-Mid-East League first-team selection after helping lead the Bulldawgs to a
30-9 record last season. Perine finished the season with 437 kills, 29 total
blocks and 277 digs. Perine served 87.9 percent with 27 aces. Perine also
received All-Shawnee County recognition in softball and basketball, helping the
Bulldawgs to a fourth-place state finish in softball.
Rick “Ricky” DeWayne Diehl, 67, of Topeka, died on August 15, 2022. Ricky was surrounded by his loving wife of 47 years, Loli, and only daughter, Enedina.
Ricky was born in Columbus, Nebraska on August 30, 1954. He graduated from Rossville High School in 1972 a semester early to voluntarily enlist in the US Navy. He was stationed in Asmara, Ethiopia and Rota, Spain. Ricky met the love of his life, Loli, in Spain. Their love story is one for the movies with years full of love, laughter, and memories. After they got married in 1975, Ricky was honorably discharged from the US Navy. They moved from the beaches of Spain to Kansas to build a life together.
Ricky worked at Goodyear and Southwestern Bell. He retired from AT&T after 30 years of service as a repairman and cable splicer. After retirement, Ricky volunteered at the VA in Topeka and returned to work as the shuttle bus driver at Stormont Vail Health. He was active in his local church serving as a deacon and music ministry support. He attended Grace Point Church is his later years. Ricky loved to fish, ride his motorcycle, was a member of the American Legion Post 421, and Legion Riders.
Ricky is now free from Alzheimer’s disease and the toll it took on his body and memories. His family will continue to remember for him.
Ricky was a loving husband, father, and he delighted in his grandchildren. His family was the joy of his life. He always said, “Do your best and let God do the rest”.
He is survived by his wife, Loli; daughter, Enedina (Shane) Miles; grandchildren, Karsyn Patch and Easton Patch; mother, Karen Diehl; siblings Vicky Foster, Mark (Donna) Diehl, and Jodi (Derek) Clark. He has many nieces, nephews, and family in Spain. He is preceded in death by his father, Kenneth; brother, Keith; Father-in-law, Rafael; Mother-in-law, Josefa; and sister-in-law, Eduarda.
A celebration of life will be held at Grace Point Church (5400 SW Huntoon Street, Topeka, KS) on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at 10:30am. Graveside services will follow at Leavenworth National Cemetery (150 Muncie Rd, Leavenworth, KS) at 2:30pm with military honors provided by the US Navy Funeral Detail.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Grace Point Church
Rossville won its fifth state title, second in a row, under head coach Derick Hammes last fall, and in four of its five state title-winning seasons, Rossville had a returning quarterback.
With the graduation of Torrey Horak, a three-year starter who will be playing collegiately at the University of Central Missouri, there will be a new quarterback this fall for the Dawgs.
There weren't a lot of reps available at quarterback last year with Horak at the helm, even with missing a few games due to injury he added an additional 1,009 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground on top of his 1,347 passing yards and 12 touchdowns.
Last year, Jacob Carver (on left in picture) was one of three returning offensive linemen for Rossville and with the other two, Brody Leitz and Mshewe Hale, now graduated. Carver is the guy with the most experience on the line.
Carver is now a two-time state champion with collegiate offers as well as a heavyweight wrestling state runner-up that owns the school squat record with a 525-pound lift.
The Rossville volleyball team went 30-9 last season and have a great chance to build on that success with three key players returning.
Seniors Caylee Douglas and Briar Gillum are two players whose experience and production will need to be replaced. Gillum was second on the team with 289 kills and Douglas had 880 of the team's 1014 assists.
The three key pieces returning are senior Brinley Dyche and juniors Kinsey Perine and Kinley Porter.
Dyche had 444 digs last season and 66 aces, Perine had a team-leading 437 kills, 277 digs and 29 stuff blocks and Porter had 233 kills, 213 digs, 86 assists, 19 stuff blocks and 24 aces.
Kenneth D. Wichman May 19, 1947 — August 16, 2022 Rossville, KS
Kenneth D. Wichman, 75, passed away Tuesday, August 16,
2022, at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka.
Kenneth was born to the late Charles and Grace (Honeyman)
Wichman on May 19, 1947, in Sabetha. He
was raised in Seneca and graduated from Seneca High School in 1965 and Kansas
State University in 1969. He served in
the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Ken and his family had lived in
the Rossville Community since 1980.
Ken was employed by Cappers Insurance as an Assistant Sales
Manager. He was a St. Stanislaus
Catholic Church member in Rossville and served on several boards and
committees. Ken served as the mayor of Rossville and served on the city
council. He was a member of Jimmie
Lillard Post No. 31 of the American Legion in Rossville, where he was the
Adjutant. Ken was a past member of USD #321 School Board.
On September 27, 1969, Kenneth D. Wichman and Sandra
Heideman were married at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. She preceded him in death on December 22,
2015.
Survivors include his children, Leslie (Scott) Martin,
Overland Park, Kristy Dyche, Rossville, Scott (Shelley) Wichman, Topeka, and
Kendra (John) Gonzales, Topeka; a brother, Richard (Peggy) Wichman, Lawrence;
two sisters, Glenda Jackson, Topeka and Joan (Roger) Lierz, Sabetha; 13
grandchildren, Abby, Jayden, Wyatt, Kallan, Olivia, Shelbey, Cody, Sheriden,
Noah, Korin, Brinley, Sophia, and Sawyer; two great-grandchildren, Jackson, and
Addison.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday,
August 23, 2022, at St. Stanislas Catholic Church in Rossville; Inurnment will
be in the Rossville Cemetery. The family
will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 P.M. Monday, August 22, 2022, at Dekat Hall
with the Rosary at 7:00 P.M. in the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the City of Rossville and sent in
care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536.
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Rossville is celebrating its annual Tall Corn Festival this weekend.
Rossville’s Tall Corn Festival takes place annually, on the second weekend of August. The event started almost 100 years ago on a hot summer weekend, as a way for the town to kick off harvest season and because Rossville is a farming community, the festival is a way to show appreciation for their Rossville farmers.
This year’s festival theme is “Blame it all on my roots” and was held at the city park and in other downtown areas.
The festival began Friday afternoon with a Rossville High School band performance, a watermelon feed, corn eating contest, Rossville High dance performances, and fireworks in the park.
Saturday’s events included an early morning tall corn breakfast, a 5K run, a downtown parade wit special guests The Shawnee County Mounted Posse, a softball tournament and a sand volleyball tournament. The Rossville Rustlers 4-H Club provided a petting zoo, the Topeka High drumline, and live music in the park. Saturday evening provided a street dance with music provided by the Lazy Wayne Band.
Sunday’s events include a communitywide worship service, and a sand volleyball tournament.
The three-day event also included craft booths, horse rides, face painting, a dunk tank, bounce houses, a car show, crafts in the park, a beer garden and food trucks.
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