William Deiter Passes Away

William D. Deiter, 86, passed away Thursday, January, 26, 2023 in Canton, GA. with family by his side.

William was born on January 31, 1936 at Maple Hill, the son of Francis P. and Verna M. Stone Deiter. He was raised in the Maple Hill community and graduated from Maple Hill High School.

Bill worked at Hallmark Cards while helping on the family farm. Later he worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Topeka and retired after 42 years of service.  Bill worked several part-time jobs after retirement always staying busy.  He was a member of the Catholic Faith. Bill enjoyed time with his wife, daughters, and grandchildren, boating, and traveling in their motorhome. He loved watching Kansas State games, Nascar races, and Kansas City Chiefs Football. He was an amazing husband, father, and grandfather.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, Joseph G., Robert, Harold, and Melvin Deiter, Dorothy Watt, and Shirley Meier.

On June 12, 1964, Bill and Eloise Patterson were united in marriage in Topeka.  She survives at their home.  Other survivors include  daughters, Pam, Julie, Cindy, Brenda, and Carla; a brother, Howard (Louise) Deiter; a sister, Maxine Bronaugh; seven grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, February 2, 2023 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys. Burial will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery. Mr. Deiter will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 5:00 until the 7:00 P.M. Rosary on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys. To leave online condolences go to www.piperfuneralhome.com.

Rex Lane Passes Away

Rex L. Lane of Atchison, KS, died peacefully with his wife Elizabeth at his side on Monday, January 16, 2023, following complications of a major cardiac event in June 2022.

On May 25, 1954, Marion L. Lane and Laura “Jean” (Peterson) Lane Christensen welcomed their first child, Rex L. Lane. The family lived in Rossville, Kansas. In 1956, the family welcomed their daughter, Kerye Jean (Lane) McEwan Jackson. In his early childhood, the family moved to North Topeka, Kansas where he spent his formative years.    Rex graduated from Seaman High School in 1972.

You can read Rex's very extensive obituary at:  https://www.beckerdyer.com/memorials/rex-lane/5128173/index.php

   

Jean Whittle Passes Away

Velma Jean “Jean” Whittle, 89, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2023, among family at the St Marys Manor.  She was born in Inman, KS, on March 24, 1933, to Nicholas and Elizabeth Schmidt. 

Jean was the eighth child of ten born into her family and they were all raised on a farm near Inman that was settled by her paternal grandparents who emigrated from south Russia, now known as Ukraine.   Jean attended grade and high school in Inman, KS and attended Bethel College in Newton.  While in college and working as a receptionist at Bethel Clinic she met her husband, Gary Whittle. They were married in Sedgwick, KS on August 17, 1956.  Gary passed away May 16, 1994.  His career was in agri-business and the family lived in Sedgwick, Inman, Buhler, Emporia, Emmett, and since 1968 in St. Marys, KS. 

To read the complete obituary,  go to:    funeralhome.com/velma-whittle

"Bill" Wild Passes Away

 William S. “Bill” Wild, 87, passed away Wednesday, January 12, 2023, at his home.

Bill was born April 10, 1935, in St. Marys, the son of William C. and Blanche Ellen Fauerbach Wild, and grew up in the Turkey Creek community.  He graduated from Rossville High School and attended Kansas Agricultural College in Manhattan.  He served as an M.P. in the Kansas National Guard.

Bill worked at the Topeka Goodyear Tire and Rubber plant for 38 years.  He was a member of Local No. 307 Rubber Workers Union.

Bill and Catherine “Kay” Jacobson were married in Topeka on October 31, 1959.  She preceded him in death on November 22, 2021; a son, William C. “Billy” Wild, preceded him in death on November 27, 1989.  Bill was also preceded in death by his sister, Carleen Kelly.

Survivors include his son, Lonnie (Angie) Wild, Topeka; his daughter, Connie (Chris) Royer, Manhattan; six grandchildren, Becky (Kris) Logsdon, Lindsay Royer, Dr. Gavin Royer, Lauren, Joe, & Brock Wild.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys.  Burial will be at a later date at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, St. Marys.  A Memorial Visitation will be on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys.  Memorial Contributions may be made to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church or St. Marys Food Pantry and sent to Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536.  To leave online condolences, go to www.piperfuneralhome.com.

Wrestling Ranked #7

 In the current reankings put out by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Assn,  Rossville is number 7 in 322A.  The only Dawg wrestlers in the top six of their  class are:

Paxton Willett                 Fifth        157#

Jacob Carver                   First         284#

Barrett Lietz                    Fourth     147#

Virginia Romero Passes Away

Virginia Leaños Romero reunited with her husband, Ramon E. Romero Sr., in Heaven on Friday, January 6th. She was born on May 21, 1926 in Rossville, Kansas to father Jose Christino Leaños and mother Maria Nicolasa Trujillo Marquez Leaños. Orphaned by the age of three, she was raised by Luis and Maria Jimenez in Williamstown, Kansas. Virginia married Ramon Sr., a WWII veteran, on May 16, 1946, and together they raised five children in Lawrence.

Having a close and loving family was very important to Virginia. She was the corner stone and pillar of the family. Known for her delicious traditional Mexican cooking, her kitchen was a home for all. She enjoyed crocheting and quilting; and hand-made blankets for her many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved attending Mexican dances and fiestas with her husband and family, including the annual St. John's Mexican Fiesta. She enjoyed traveling the United States and Mexico with her husband, children, and grandchildren; and she was particularly fond of a trip she and her husband made to Australia in 2000.
After her children were grown, she owned and operated Romero's Liquor Store in downtown Lawrence for 25 years. Virginia enjoyed serving as a Democratic Party poll worker and precinct supervisor at the New York School on nearly every presidential election day from President Dwight D. Eisenhower's first election in 1952 until 2016, missing only one election due to heart surgery in 2005. She was featured in the Journal-World for her poll worker service in 2006 and 2014. When asked in the 2006 Journal World interview to identify her favorite elected official, she said, "Kennedy. He was just a friendly president, just trying to do good for his country." Also, she was appointed to the Kansas State Cosmetology Board by Governor Robert Docking, Jr. in 1973.
Virginia was preceded in death by Ramon Sr., her husband of 62 years; two brothers, Antonio Marquez and Feliciano Leaños; four sisters, Linda Leaños Limones, Agrippina Marquez, Cuca and Carmen Marquez-Lopez; and foster brother Fidel Jimenez, Sr. She is survived by her children: Judy Romero; Ramon Romero Jr.; Antonio Romero (Kyoko); Guadalupe Romero Kosa (Rodney); and Michael Romero. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Adrianne Jones (Seth); Andrew Weibel; Christina Romero; Antonio Romero, Jr. (Cassandra Majus); Rosalina Romero (Brent Vignery); and Jason Romero (Jackie). She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Evelyn and Boyd Jones; Dexter Vignery, Sylvia Romero and Lydia Romero; Vale, Brynn, and Pierce Romero; and Hunter Romero. She is also survived by foster brother, Johnny Jimenez and foster sister Mary Jimenez Knowles, as well as many nieces and nephews from Kansas and Washington.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 13, 2023 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Lawrence. A rosary will be said at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, January 12, 2023 with the visitation to follow the rosary until 8:00 p.m. at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
Family suggests memorials in her name to American Heart Association and may be sent in care of the mortuary. For more information or to post a condolence go to warrenmcelwain.com.

Leola Kolde Passes Away

Leola Kolde  of Rossville passed away Jan. 7, 2023 just six months shy of her 100th birthday.  No obituary available  at this time.   It will be posted here when available.

Kenneth Hoobler Passes Away

Kenneth E. Hoobler, 80, passed away Sunday, January 1, 2023, at his home.

Kenneth was born May 23, 1942, in Maple Hill, the son of Harold V. and Velma Irene Leeper Hoobler.  He graduated from Maple Hill High School.

He worked for the Rock Island Railroad until 1970, when he started working for the Santa Fe Railroad in Topeka, retiring from BNSF Railroad in 2002.  Kenny was an avid fisherman; he loved to hunt and play cards.  He was a member of the TCU Union, a past member of the St. Marys Gun Club, and had served on the St Marys Fire Department for 35 years.

Kenny was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Richard Hoobler, and a grandson, Darrin March.

On June 5, 1965, he and Dorothy R. Kolde were united in marriage at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys.  She survives at their home.

Other survivors include two daughters, Debbie (Robbie) Figge, Wamego, and Barb March, Topeka; four brothers, William (Pat) Hoobler, Rose Hill, Norris (Pam) Hoobler and Horace (Angie) Hoobler, all of Maple Hill and Sidney (Cindy) Hoobler, Topeka; a sister-in-law Brenda Hoobler, Horton; four grandchildren, Michael March, Jesse (Janaye) Figge, Wyatt Figge, and Anna Figge; one great-grandson Hiram.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church In St. Marys.  Burial will be at 2:30 P.M. Tuesday at the Maple Hill Cemetery, Maple Hill.  Kenny will lie in state, and the family will receive friends from 5:00 until the Rosary at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, January 9, 2023, at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys.  Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Marys Fire Department and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536.  To leave online condolences, go to www.piperfuneralhome.com.