Charlene M. Wenzl, 78, Topeka, died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, at a care facility in Topeka.

She was born Aug. 6, 1930, at Valley Falls, the daughter of Carl Alfred and Leona Schneider Brose. She graduated from Valley Falls High School and then received a Bachelor of Music degree from St. Mary College in Leavenworth in 1952 and a Master of Education degree from Washburn University in 1963.

Charlene taught elementary music in USD 501 schools in Topeka for 37 years. She had also taught at Nortonville Public Schools and had given private piano lessons. In Topeka she had served as president of the USO, Kansas National Educator's Association of Topeka and Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority. She was a member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, the Catholic Youth Organization, Kansas NEA and NEA.

She married Gene Wenzl on Oct. 6, 1990 at Topeka. He died in 1995. Survivors include a brother, Melvin Brose, Topeka; five stepchildren, Mark, Tim, Matt, Jeff and Jennifer Wenzl; two nephews, Michael Brose and Jeffrey Brose; and two nieces, Deidre Boyd and Denise Jennings.

Mass of Christian Burial was at 10:00 a.m. Monday, Aug. 25, 2008, at St. Mary's Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Valley Falls. Burial was at the church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders and sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. Online condolences are at www.mercerfuneralhomes.com

Charles Roger Hodson (Lt. Col., Ret.)

Memorial services for Roger Hodson, 91, were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the Perry United Methodist Church. A military burial service was held at 10 a.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Perry, prior to the memorial service.

He died Friday, Aug. 22, at home from complications of Parkinson's disease. He was born May 26, 1917, in Hallowell, the son of Charles Asa and Lillian Jason Raymer Hodson.

He moved to Columbus at an early age. After graduating from Columbus schools, he attended Kansas University, where he graduated and received his Army commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in May 1941. He was called to active duty in September 1941. After serving during World War II, he returned to KU and received his law degree in 1950.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he sailed from San Francisco with the first American Expeditionary Force to Hawaii Dec. 17, where he served for 11 months. He then served in the European theater after attending anti-aircraft school at Camp Davis, N.C., and joined the 491st AAA Battalion at Camp Stewart, Ga. He returned from Europe after the war in October 1945 and joined the Army Reserves. He graduated from the General Command and Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, and then taught GCS classes to reservists in Topeka. He retired from the Army Reserves as a lieutenant colonel in 1969, having served over 28 years.

He farmed in the Perry area from 1945 until he retired in 1993. He also practiced law, specializing in income tax. As a long-time member of the Perry United Methodist Church, he served as Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher and lay leader and was a member of the choir for 50 years. He served as city clerk of Perry for 34 years, retiring in 1993. He was a past member of the Lions Club, American Legion Post 142, and the Lawrence Knife and Fork Club. He was a volunteer for the fire department and served on the Kentucky Township board. He served on the Committee for Higher Learning at KU for many years.

He married Margaret Brown Jan. 17, 1943, at the Perry Methodist Church. She survives at the home. The couple traveled throughout the United States and overseas. Other survivors are his children, Sherry Weber, Tokyo, Japan, and Topeka, Peggy Griswold, Wichita, Chuck Hodson, Topeka, and Janet Macek, Shawnee; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Raymer Hodson and Kenneth Hodson, and a sister, Doris Hupe.

Memorial contributions can be made to Perry United Methodist Church or The American Parkinson Disease Association Inc. and sent in care of Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home at P.O. Box 416, Oskaloosa, 66066.

Wanda Bartsch

Wanda Pearl Tosh Bartsch, 82, Jewell, died at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit July 24, 2008.

She was born Oct. 23, 1925, in Valley Falls, the youngest daughter of Walter and Pearl White Tosh. She lived in the communities of Valley Falls and Denison while growing up and graduated from Denison High School in 1943.

Mrs. Bartsch worked at an airplane factory in Wichita and supply depot in Topeka.

She married George Bartsch Aug. 31, 1945, at First Methodist Church in Topeka. They moved to their farm near Jewell where she lived for the rest of her life. The couple spent most of their retirement years in Edinburg, Texas.

She is survived by her husband, George; sons Steve Bartsch, Geneva, Ill., and Tom Bartsch, Jewell; four granddaughters; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Eula Colle, Marion; a stepsister; stepbrothers; and two stepgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Laura Dixon and Marjorie Goldsberry.

A memorial service was held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Jewell July 27. Burial was in Jewell Cemetery. Memorials can be given to the Trinity United Methodist Church and Solomon Valley Hospice and sent in care of Kleppinger Funeral Home, 409 Broadway, Jewell.

Eva Andrews Lowman

Eva Andrews Lowman, 95, Leavenworth, died Aug. 25, 2008, at a Topeka care facility.

She was born Jan. 22, 1913, at Knowles, N.M., the daughter of James Houston and Rosa Denton Andrews. She was graduated from Holton High School in 1931, received a teacher's certificate and taught at a rural school in Jackson County.

She married S. Harold Lowman Oct. 5, 1935, and they moved to Leavenworth. She worked in the county treasurer's office and in the accounting and finance department at Ft. Leavenworth, retiring in 1968.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Leavenworth, United Methodist Women, the Canning Club of Leavenworth County, Farm Bureau, and the Federated Women's Club.

Mr. Lowman died Nov. 23, 1985. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Frank Andrews, and a sister, Lennie Cummings. Survivors include a son, Eldon H. Lowman, Gainesville, Ga; two sisters, Joan Wissell, Gaastra, Mich., and Nancy Lowman, Topeka; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

The graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at the Valley Falls Cemetery. The casket will be closed. Memorial contributions can be made to the Capper Foundation and sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, 810 Broadway, Valley Falls, 66088. (mercerfuneralhomes.com)

Janet Lentz

Janet Irene Lentz, 75 Easton, formerly of Winchester, died Aug. 21, 2008 at the Country Care Nursing Home, Easton.

She was born Oct. 13, 1932 in Umfrey, Mo., the daughter of Leon and Roberta E. Sigler Moberly. She was a homemaker and housewife for most of her life. She was a member of the New Testament Christian Church, Winchester, and a member of the ladies aid of the church.

She married James Albert Lentz April 1, 1956, in Leavenworth. He preceded her in death July 17, 2005. A grandchild also preceded her in death. Survivors include three sons James Lentz, Dodge City, and Richard Lentz and Keith Lentz, both of Winchester; two daughters, Donieta McVay, Meriden, and Becky Belveal, Nortonville; two sisters, Sue Clark, Lawrence, and Jo Ellen Lean, Humansville, Mo.; 20 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Aug. 25 at the New Testament Christian Church, Winchester. Burial was in the Nortonville Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the American Diabetes Association and sent in care of O'Trimble Funeral Home, Nortonville.

Billie Nitzsche

Billie B. "Bill' Nitzsche, 78, McLouth, formerly of Sanford, Fla., and Topeka, died Aug. 22, 2008, at the Stormont-Vail Hospital emergency room in Topeka.

He was born Aug. 16, 1930, at Tilden, Ill., the son of Albert William and Evelyn Jenny Palmer Nitzsche. He had lived in rural McLouth five years.

He worked as a quality control engineer for ESCO Co. in Sanford, Fla., and for Emerson Electric in St. Louis, Mo., for many years, retiring in 1988. He also worked at the Western Area Postal Supply Center Topeka.

He was a 1948 graduate of Marissa (Ill.) High School.

He married Nadine Jean Woods Aug. 31, 1948, at Osceola, Ark. She survives at the home. Other survivors include two sons, Dennis Nitzsche, McLouth, Bret Nitzsche, Foreston, Minn.; one daughter, Jane Ann Peters, Lewis, Del.; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Family memorial services will be at a later date. Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, Oskaloosa, is assisting the family.

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