Rita Muckenthaler Passes Away

Rita Jean Muckenthaler was born on August 3,1933, in Wamego, Kansas to Margaret and Theodore Straub. Rita graduated from Wamego High School in 1950. She graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in education and received a master’s degree from Washburn University. In 1952, she married Cloyes (Duke) Windsor. He was killed in a car wreck. Rita then married Richard Simecka, they later divorced. In 1977, she married Marvin Muckenthaler. He preceded her in death.

Rita taught school in Holton, Havensville, Onaga, Royal Valley, and USD 321. She worked after retirement for the legislature in Topeka. She also worked tirelessly at the museum in St. Marys.

Community was important to Rita. She was always busy with her many clubs and community activities; she was a member St. Marys Chamber of Commerce, Kaw Valley Education Association serving as president, lifetime member of NEA and KNEA, Delta Kappa Gamma Alpha Zeta Chapter, served as president, life member of the Kansas State Alumni Association, Kansas State Presidents Club, Adheren Club, St. Marys Women’s Golf Association serving as president, St. Marys Golf Course Commission, Literary Club, Rossville Library Book Club, Bunco group, American Legion Auxiliary president, IC women's Circle and was in charge of funeral dinners at one time. She was director and president of the St. Marys Historical Society for over 30 years. She took pride in the fine museum she helped develop.

Rita ran in half marathons; she joked that she won the over 50 races, played tennis at Woodvalley in Topeka, golfed, and Biked Across Kansas. She loved to hike and swim also. She hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon at age 59. She was proud of the fact that she initiated the family pass at the St. Marys pool. She walked and worked out each day. Rita had season tickets to Kansas State volleyball, football, and girls’ basketball.

Rita loved to watch her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in their activities. She traveled many miles to watch ball games, track meets, cross-country and any other activity they participated in.

Rita was a world traveler. She loved cruises, bus trips, overseas trips with Dr. Kurtz from K-State and many other trips around the world, road trips with friends and family, and traveling to football and girls’ basketball games to cheer on Kansas State. She could also be seen gambling from time to time. Rita took pride in her yard and loved working outdoors with her flowers. Rita loved life and lived each moment on her terms.

Rita is preceded in death by her parents, siblings; Dale and Joe Straub, Theola Bearman, Pauline Ellis, and Maxine Eichem. She is survived by her children; Charles Simecka (Debbie), Topeka, Alan Simecka (Donna), and Lori Martini (Steve), Manhattan; 8 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 P.M. Friday, January 5, 2024, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St.  Marys.  Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery St. Marys.  The family will receive friends at the funeral  home Thursday, January 4, 2024, from 5:00 until the 7:00 P.M. Rosary.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Indian Pay Station Museum and sent to Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536.  Online condolences may be sent to www.piperfuneralhome.com.

Lietz To Play In Shrine Bowl

 Rossville senior Barrett Lietz has been selected to play in the 51st annual 2024 Shrine Bowl later this year.

Douglas Queen (77) Passes Away (Updated)

Douglas J Queen, 64, passed away December 24, 2023, with his family by his side.

He was born May 10, 1959, in Topeka to Helen Spears & Donald Queen

He was a graduate of Rossville High School graduating in 1977.

Doug was very proud to be a Farmer, as a kid he couldn’t wait for his Grandpa Spears to pick him up and take him to the farm.  He prided himself in raising good quality cattle. 

Doug served on several boards over the years, Soil Conservation & FSA.  His greatest passion became 4H and served on the Fairboard and Livestock Committee for many years along with EKSSS Board. 
Doug was well known by the 4H kids all over the State for being the guy at the gate to give them a fist bump and words of encouragement as they entered the ring.

On November 12, 1983, he married his wife Denise, they had just celebrated their 40th anniversary.

They were blessed with 2 beautiful daughters and their husbands, Jessica & Dan Aubert and Megan & Josh Davis along with his pride and joy 6 grandkids, Katie, Cheyanne, Tucker, Weston, Baelynn & Madelyn.  He was so very proud of each and everyone of them and would not miss a thing they did.

He is survived by his sister, Rita Estelle and brother John (Christie) Queen, his mother and father-in-law Rex and Judy Lober and brother-in-law Jeff Lober (Jen) nieces and nephews and his many friends he had made throughout his years.

Doug was preceded in death by his mom, Helen Miller and dad Donald Queen and brother Earl Queen and grandparents Laverne and Edna Spears.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 30, 2023, at 11:00 am at the Citizens Potawatomie Community Building in Rossville located at 806 Nishnabe Trail.  A wake will be held Friday evening December 29, 2023, from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Citizens Potawatomie Community Building. Burial will be at the Rossville Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Doug Queen Memorial where a fund is being set up to provide awards for 4H events and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536.

Walter Flach Passes Away

 Walter Flach of Paxico has passed away at the age of 93.  His obituary can be read at:  Piperfuneralhome.com/obituaries/walter-flach

Alan Foster Passes Away

Alan J. Foster, aged 58, peacefully passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at the Midland Hospice House in Topeka of pancreatic cancer.

Born on January 2, 1965, in Topeka, Alan was the son of Robert and Sally (Glotzbach) Foster. He graduated from Washburn Rural High School, Highland Community College in 1985, and Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics in 1987.

At the age of 14, Alan began his agricultural career on Uncle David and Aunt Virginia Foster’s farm near Rossville, spending summers living and learning and became like brothers to Andy, Adam and other hired hands.

Alan was a Corporate Parts Inventory Analyst for Prairie Land Partners John Deere, while serving in this capacity he was honored to serve on the John Deere Parts Lead User Group. Alan had previously worked as a Parts Manager for Concordia Tractor, Inc and Kaw Valley Equipment in Wamego, at Farmers Union Hardware & Implement in St. Marys and Murphy Tractor in Topeka. He was a Parts Man at Caldwell's Incorporated in Topeka. Alan also worked for a time at Caterpillar Work Tools in Wamego. Throughout his life, Alan believed in the future of farming and was always excited for the next innovation.

Alan also believed in his children and did whatever he could to support their growth whether it be assisting in coaching activities, being a camp  counselor, helping with a fundraiser or just yelling from the bleachers. He was always there for them whether it be a football game in an ice storm or a hours long trip to Nebraska to watch a short race.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Foster.  Alan is survived by his loving wife Ann, whom he married on April 30, 1988. Other survivors include his son, Perry (Breaira) Foster of Rossville; his daughter, Amelia Foster of Rossville; his mother, Sally Foster of Topeka; and three sisters, Anita (Chad) Sidesinger, Mary (Larry) Heffern, and Karen (Aaron) Anderson, all of Topeka.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Rossville, at 10 A.M. with burial in the Foster Family Cemetery, Topeka. Alan will lie in state on Monday, January 1, 2024, at the church, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until the 7:00 P.M. Rosary. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Rossville Community Library, or Rock Springs 4-H Center and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536. To leave online condolences, visit www.piperfuneralhome.com.

2A All-State Football Team

Rossville High Offensive Lineman Barrett Bietz was selected to the Kansas 2A All-State football team for 2023.  Up can ead the complete list in the below linked article which includes numerous Honorable Mentions.

https://www.kansas.com/sports/varsity-kansas/varsity-football/article283424838.html

Family Of Twelve To Rebuild Lost Home

WIBW has an excellent video about the Delia family that lost their home in a house fire. 

https://www.wibw.com/video/2023/12/23/family-12-delia-says-they-are-rebuilding-after-house-fire/

Community trails around Rossville

 ROSSVILLE — New trails are creating buzz in Rossville.

Phase 1 of the new Rossville Community Trail, a quarter-mile stretch of concrete, starts at the Rossville Fire Department just south of US-24 highway and circles around the nearby high school to the east. Phases 2 and 3 are expected to complete the nearly 1.5-mile route by next year.

To the west of the new concrete paths are another first for the town: a natural surface trail spanning about 0.65 of a mile that was completed earlier this year.

The two new trails are just the beginning for the Shawnee County community looking to give alternative routes for its residents.

"This is a good opportunity for not only for economic development, but primarily for community health and public health," Myron Leinwetter, with Rossville Community Foundation, told The Capital-Journal.

Republic Co. Duals Wrestling Meet

Republic Co Duals  Dec. 19, 2023

Nemaha Central        42-30    Rossville

Concordia                  60-19    Rossville

Beloit                         45-36    Rossville

Republic Co               36-33    Rossville

SE of Saline                43-42   Rossville

Southeast of Saline's  score was adjusted by 1.0 for  most forfeits received (tie breaker)

KWCA Boys 3-1a Wrestling Rankings

In the week of Dec. 20,  Paxton Willett is ranked 4th in the 165# classs and Barrett Lietz is ranked  6 in the 215# class.

KWCA Girls Wrestling Rankings for 4-1a

Kendra Hurla and Keera Lacock are still undefeated and ranked #1in the 120 and 125 classes.

Haley Horton in ranked #3in the 155 lb. class

Kendra Hurla Up For athlete Of Week

The three-time state champion has started her senior campaign perfectly. She is 11-0 in the 120-pound weight division. Hurla’s latest competition was in the Ladycat Classic, hosted by Basehor-Linwood on Saturday. Hurla went 4-0 as she claimed first place. Three of her four wins came via pin, including the championship bout. 

Girls Lose To Silver Lake 66-52

Dec. 19, 2023                            

Perine                 1-5           0-0    2
orter                    1-6           0-0    2
Mitchell              3-15         1-2    9
Dick                    5-10         5-7   19
Spielman             0-3          0-0     0
Burdiek               6-16         3-8    16
Hoehn                  2-4          0-2     4            

Boys Lose To Silver Lake 62-53

Rossvillle falls to MEL rival Silver Lake on Dec. 19, 2023

McDonnell         4-13         5-5    13
Badura               7-11          1-2    15     
Donovan            5-11 (1)    2-2    13
Jones                  2-4           3-4     7
Horak                 1-4 (1)      0-0    3
Miller                 1-4            0-1    2