Robert L. Grandstaff, 98, Meriden, formerly of Lapeer, Mich., died April 1, 2008, at Deer Park Senior Group Home. He was born Jan. 4, 1910, at Vanwort, Ohio, the son of Leroy F. and Nellie I. Merriss Grandstaff.

Mr. Grandstaff was a factory machinist for General Motors for 37 years, retiring in 1976. He attended the Baptist Church in Lapeer.

He married Ruth E. England March 26, 1934. She preceded him in death July 22, 1992. Survivors include two sons, Robert O. Grandstaff and David Grandsatff, both of Comanche, Okla.; five grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; five great-grandchildren; nine stepgreat-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; eight stepgreat-great-grandchildren; and one great-great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by a stepgreat-granddaughter and one sister.

Graveside services were April 7 at the Acacia Park Cemetery, Birmingham, Mich. Memorials can be made to Jefferson County Hospice and sent in care of Barnett-Chapel Oaks Meriden Chapel, P.O. Box 331, Meriden, 66512.

H.D. "Sonny" Senn

Herman Duane "Sonny" Senn, 76, Valley Falls, died April 3, 2008, at a Topeka hospital. He was born Aug. 5, 1931, west of Valley Falls, the son of Herman L. and Virginia Van Druff Senn.

He graduated from Valley Falls High School in 1949 and had attended Washburn University. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea. Sonny was a licensed electrician and had worked at the Dupont Plant at Tecumseh for 38 years. He later worked in maintenance at Harrah's Prairie Band Casino at Mayetta.

He was a lifetime member of Grahem-Herbers Post 3084, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and had served on the Valley Falls Cemetery Association Board, the Valley Falls City Council, and the USD 338 School Board.

He married Dalene Metzger March 13, 1954, at Valley Falls. He was preceded in death by his parents and stepmother, Jean Baldwin Senn, and brother, Gerry Senn. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Steve Senn, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Eric Senn, Valley Falls; a daughter, Janet Senn, Scottsbluff, Neb; a sister, Rita Rochelle, Topeka; a stepsister Kathleen Taylor, Colorado Springs, Colo.; two grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

The funeral service was April 7 at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. Burial with military honors by Grahem-Herbers VFW Post 3084 was at the Valley Falls Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made to Jefferson County District 11 EMS or to Grahem-Herbers Post 3084 and sent in care of the funeral home, 810 Broadway, Valley Falls, 66088. (mercerfuneralhomes.com)

Shirley Wulfkuhle

Shirley D. Wulfkuhle, 78, Perry, formerly of Richmond, died April 1, 2008, at Ottawa Retirement Village. She was born Oct. 18, 1929, in Amarillo, Texas, the daughter of William Robert and Frances Park Hilliard.

She graduated from high school in Fort Worth in 1947. Mrs. Wulfkuhle was employed by Southwestern Bell as a telephone operator in Topeka and Ottawa. Later she was a telephone information operator for The University of Kansas. She helped with the family farm until part of it was taken to create Clinton Lake. She was a member of Stull United Methodist Church.

She married Donald Leroy Wulfkuhle June 20, 1953, while he was stationed at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth. He died May 27, 2007. Survivors include two brothers, Robert Hilliard, Longview, Texas, and William Hilliard, Ennis, Texas; two sons, Chris Wulfkuhle, Spring Hill, and Kenny Wulfkuhle, Perry; a daughter, Carol Cooper, Osawatomie; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were April 3 at Stull United Methodist Church. Burial was at Stull Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the church and sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Richard Lobb

Richard A. Lobb, 81, McLouth, died April 3, 2008, at the Leavenworth Veteran's Administration Hospital in Leavenworth. He was born Dec. 20, 1926, at McLouth, the son of Ray and Minnie Willo Edmonds Lobb.

He was a Lifelong resident of McLouth and was a heavy equipment operator, working for King Brothers Construction for 31 years. He retired in 1991. He was a member of the McLouth United Methodist Church. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving from 1944 to 1946 aboard the USS Nassau. His name is listed on the memorial register of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. He was a life member of American Legion Post No. 225, Ozawkie, and the VFW Post No. 9271 of Tonganoxie.

He married Lela Grace Means Sept. 18, 1947, at McLouth, She survives in Oskaloosa. Also surviving are one son, Sam Lobb, Tonganoxie; one daughter, Nancy Schultz, Tonganoxie; two brothers, Phillip Lobb, Fairplay, Colo., and Tom Lobb, Tonganoxie; three sisters, Esther Schwinn and Ruby Harwood, both of McLouth, and Shirley Kiefer, Dallas Center, Iowa; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services were April 7 at the McLouth United Methodist Church. Burial with Legion Honors was at McLouth Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the Cottonwood Inc. Memorial Fund and sent in care of the Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, P.O. Box 416, Oskaloosa, 66066.

Ethel Coppinger

Ethel May "Jiggs" Coppinger, 90, Winchester, died April 4, 2008, at the Jefferson County Geriatric Center in Winchester. She was born Nov. 12, 1917, at Winchester, the daughter of Thomas Steele and Lucy Annie Allie Gibson Reynolds.

She was a lifelong resident of Winchester. Mrs. Coppinger was a cook at the Jefferson County Memorial Hospital for many years and operated the Winchester Cafe for a short time. She was a member of the Christian Ladies Aid Society, the Homemaker's Club, and the Senior Citizens, all in Winchester. "Jiggs" also played piano in a small local band for square dances in the local area. She was a 1935 graduate of Winchester High School.

She married Delbert Alvin Coppinger Oct. 14, 1938, at Atchison. He preceded her in death Dec. 23, 1990. Survivors include four sons, Larry Coppinger, Jerry Coppinger, Dick Coppinger, and Charlie Coppinger, all of Winchester; three daughters, June Reed, Jean Jobbins, and Julie VanDruff, all of Winchester; four brothers, James Reynolds, Nortonville, and Alvin Reynolds, Harvey Reynolds, and Don Reynolds, all of Winchester; one sister, Dora Kiernan, Winchester; 21 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were April 8 at the New Testament Christian Church in Winchester. Burial was at Winchester-Wise Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Jefferson County Hospice or to the Jefferson County Geratric Center and sent in care of the Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, P.O. Box 416, Oskaloosa, 66066. 42-32-1tc

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