Edna J. Renfro, 93, Perry, died May 20, 2008, at the Midland Hospice House in Topeka. She was born Oct. 25, 1914, in the Bloomfield area north of Meriden, the daughter of Frederick William and Alta Ethel Moore Krumrey.

Mrs. Renfro was a homemaker, Girl Scout leader, and caregiver. She was a member of the Perry United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women.

She married Francis R. “Frank” Renfro April 12, 1933, at Topeka.He preceded her in death May 4, 2008. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Frankie L. Smith, in 2006, three sisters and three brothers. She is survived by three daughters, Ladonna Grindol, Berryton, Connie Green, Perry, and Brenda Price, Tecumseh; 10 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Barnett-Chapel Oaks Meriden Chapel. Interment will be at Valley Falls Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Meriden Chapel. Memorials can be made to Jefferson County Home Health and Hospice or to Midland Hospice in care of the funeral chapel, P.O. Box 331, Meriden, 66512.

Emmy Fuehrer

Emmy Wibelius Fuehrer, 97, Oskaloosa, died Tuesday, May 20, 2008, at Hickory Pointe Care Center in Oskaloosa.

Burial will be at the Valley Falls Cemetery. Mercer Funeral Home, Valley Falls, is in charge of arrangements. (mercerfuneralhomes.com)

Celestine Carey

Celestine Maxwell “Sally” Carey, 90, Topeka, died May 14, 2008, at St. Francis Health Center. She was born April 15, 1918, at Liebenthal, the daughter of Peter and Rose Schaffer Legleiter.

She graduated from La Crosse Rural High School in 1937. She was the credit manager for Topeka Gas Co., retiring in 1981 after 33 years of service.

She married Elvin Aldus “Al” Carey June 11, 1952, at Topeka. She was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters. Survivors include her husband, Al Carey, Topeka; a son, Joe Maxwell, Parker, Colo.; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

The graveside service was May 17 at the Valley Falls Cemetery. Mercer Funeral Home, Valley Falls, was in charge of arrangements. (mercerfuneralhomes.com)

Michael Armstrong

Michael John Armstrong, 52, Ozawkie, died May 8, 2008. He was born July 14, 1955, in Topeka.

He had lived and worked in Alaska off and on for the last 20 years. He worked construction his whole life and was passionate about music. He was a talented musician since the age of 10.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Norman Armstrong; brother, Norman Jay Armstrong; a sister, Linda Sue Sturgeon; and brother-in-law, Alan Huston. He is survived by his wife, Ronda Armstrong; children, Michael John Armstrong II, Jamie Buchtel, Steven Armstrong, and Gary Armstrong; stepchildren, Taylor, Tasha, Kodey and Korey; six grandchildren; mother, Pippa Armstrong; and his siblings, Dan Armstrong, James Armstrong, Sharon Davis, Joan Chapman, Arthur Armstrong, David Armstrong, and Joyce Burk.

Memorial services were May 19 at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Holton. Memorials can be made to the Michael Armstrong Memorial Fund and sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 1034, Holton 66436.

Robert Mitchell

Robert “Bob” Mitchell, 53, Phoenix, Ariz., formerly of DeSoto, died May 15, 2008, at his home. He was born Jan. 18, 1955, at Lawrence, the son of Manly Glen and Elva May Gillespie Mitchell.

He had lived in Phoenix 11 years. He was a master technician auto mechanic. He had worked for Toyota for 20 years. He was a member of the North Valley Baptist Church in Phoenix.

He married Julie Ann May Dec. 28, 1974, at Kansas City, Mo. She survives at the home. He is also survived by two sons, Tyson Mitchell and Todd Mitchell, and two daughters, Misty Mitchell and Katelynn May, all of Phoenix; three brothers, Larry Mitchell, Gardner, James Mitchell, Moore, Okla., and Jerry Mitchell, Paola; three sisters, Norma Hoffine, Vancouver, Wash., and Carol Newport and Janie Gumm, both of DeSoto; and one granddaughter.

Funeral services were May 21 at Barnett-Chapel Oaks Meriden Chapel. Burial was at the Grantville Cemetery. Memorials can be made to Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix and sent in care of the funeral chapel, P.O. Box 331, Meriden, 66512.

Alfred Spielman

Alfred R. “Bud Spielman, 74, Oskaloosa, died May 19, 2008, at Midland Hospice House due to pancreatic cancer. He was born Aug. 5, 1933, the seventh child of John L. and Alva M. Hobbs Spielman in Jewel County.

The family moved to Oskaloosa in September 1936 where he grew up on the family farm north of Oskaloosa. He graduated from Oskaloosa High School and retired from Hills Pet Products after 35 years of service. After his retirement he worked as a courier for Commerce Bank for 6 years.

Bud married Irene Dunn in 1956. They had one son, Christopher R. Spielman. They were divorced in 1967. He married Barbara J. Clark-Miner in 1972. She survives of the home. He was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Elkinton, two brothers, Robert Spielman and Gerald Spielman, and a stepson, Matthew Miner. He is survived by his son, Chris; two grandsons; two stepgranddaughters; one stepgrandson; one great-grandson; sisters, Betty Wilkin, Denver, and Joan Fries, Topeka; and a brother, Donald Spielman, Topeka.

Mr. Spielman coached a girl’s softball team sponsored by Hills Pet Products. He participated in the Senior Olympics, receiving several medals and also running a half-marathon. He was a member of Countryside United Methodist Church.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Countryside United Methodist Church Thursday, May 22. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery. He will lie in state at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road. Visitation was from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Memorial contributions can be sent to Midland Hospice House, 200 SW Frazier Cr, Topeka, 66606 or Countryside United Methodist Church, 3221 SW Burlingame Rd, Topeka, 66611-2006 or American Cancer Society, 1315 SW Arrowhead Rd, Topeka, 66604.

Betty Syverson

Betty Rose Curry Syverson, 83, Topeka, died May 12, 2008. She was born May 27, 1924, in Winchester, the second daughter of Dr. Lewis and Bertha Lillie Curry.

She attended grade school in Winchester and graduated from Topeka High School in 1942. She was a member of the Episcopal Church. in Topeka. She attended Washburn University where she became a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.

She married Lawrence Syverson in Topeka Nov. 22, 1945. He survives. She was the office manager in her father’s medical office, a homemaker and Girl Scout leader. She worked for the recognition of artist John Steuart Curry, her cousin. Other survivors include daughters, Elizabeth Syverson, Topeka, and Cherie Brown, Blackfoot, Idaho; and a sister, Dorothy Curry Hubbard, Topeka.

A visitation and celebration of her life was held May 16 at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, Topeka. A private graveside service was at the Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery, Winchester. Memorial contributions are suggested to Alzheimer’s Association and sent in care of the funeral home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka, 66614.

Rosetta Pierce

Rosetta C. Pierce, 80, Oskaloosa, died May 15, 2008, at a Tonganoxie nursing home. Mrs. Pierce was born Sept. 9, 1927, in Kansas City and was a lifelong area resident.

She was co-owner and operator of Pierce Truck Service. She was a member of the Way of the Cross United Methodist Church at Ozawkie. She is survived by her son, Earl Pierce III, Eagle Mountain, Utah; a daughter, Cindy Masters, Oskaloosa, one sister, Henrietta Powell, Overland Park; four grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were May 20 at the Highland Park Funeral Home & Crematory, Kansas City. Burial was in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Kansas City. The Highland Park Funeral Home & Crematory was in charge of arrangements.

Obituaries Archive