Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008

Obituaries Archive

Ralph Kerr

Ralph L. Kerr, 50, Bonner Springs, formerly of Oskaloosa, died and was found Sept. 2, 2008, at his home.

He was born Nov. 27, 1957, at Winchester, the son of Harold Gene and Shirley Ann Gillum Kerr. He had lived in Bonner Springs one year, moving from Oskaloosa.

Mr. Kerr was a welder for many years, working for Southwest Steel Co. in Bonner Springs. He was a member of the Oskaloosa United Methodist Church and had attended Oskaloosa High School.

He is survived by a daughter, Christee Hutchins, Valley Falls; his parents of Oskaloosa; three brothers, Bob Kerr, John Kerr and Glen Kerr, all of Lawrence; and a granddaughter. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Marlee Kerr, in 1987.

Memorial services were Sept. 6 at Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Oskaloosa. Inurnment will be at a later date at Pleasant View Cemetery in Oskaloosa. Memorials can be made to the Ralph Kerr Memorial Fund and sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 416, Oskaloosa, 66066.

Caroline Putthoff

Caroline Ann Putthoff, 89, Meriden, died Sept. 5, 2008, at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka.

She was born July 7, 1919, in Topeka, to Michael and Celestia Boehm Albright. She was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Topeka and was a graduate of Topeka Catholic High School in 1938. After graduation, she followed in her father’s footsteps and began working at Santa Fe Railroad in 1942, where she was a member of the Business Girls sorority.

She married Lewis H. Putthoff May 24, 1952, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Topeka. They made their first home in Valley Falls, where they began their family. Caroline and Lewis moved to their home in Meriden in 1957 where they farmed. The couple were members of the St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Meriden.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Rose Marie Putthoff; her brother, Ralph Albright; and her sister, Celeste Buschle. Survivors include her husband; her children, Chris Putthoff and Steve Putthoff, Meriden, Jolene Gier, Valley Falls, Patty Ricks, Rossville, and Jeanne Figgs, Maple Hill; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Sept. 9 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church. Graveside services were at the St. Aloysius Catholic Cemetery, Meriden. Memorial contributions can be made to Catholic Charities or the Jefferson County Home Health Department and sent in care of the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Ave., Topeka, 66603.

Frances Lewis

Frances Harriet May Lewis, 100, Topeka, formerly of Valley Falls, died Sept. 5, 2008, at Lexington Park Nursing Center in Topeka.

She was born April 21, 1908, in Holton, the daughter of Robert King and Harriet Elizabeth Ford May. She graduated from Holton High School and had attended Washburn University.

She had lived for over 60 years in Valley Falls before moving to Topeka. She was a charter member of the Valley Falls Community Christian Council, serving as vice president, secretary, treasurer and executive board member. She was a past president of the Delaware Township Library and served on various civic committees. She had attended the First Christian Church in Valley Falls.

Mrs. Lewis was a homemaker. She had worked as a housekeeper and at the ammunitions plant in Kansas City, Mo., during World War II.

She married Clyde J. Lewis Jan. 11, 1927, in Leavenworth. He died Jan. 30, 1963. She was also preceded in death by two daughters, Barbara Joan Clark and Beverly Ann Lewis, and 10 brothers and sisters. Survivors include a son, Frank Lewis, Los Angeles; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

The graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Holton Cemetery. Family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Memorials can be given to the Delaware Township Library at Valley Falls and sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home P.O. Box 270, Holton, 66436.

Velma Brosa

Velma E. Brosa, 86, Colorado Springs, Colo., died Sept. 3, 2008. She was born Nov. 14, 1921, at Half Mound to Robert and Rose Reichart.

Survivors include her children, Bob Brosa, Topeka, and Don Brosa and Mary Brosa, both of Colorado Springs; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Clarence C. Brosa, in June.

Services were Sept. 9 at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Chapel in Colorado Springs.

Connie Looney

Connie S. (Trent) Looney, 58, Perry, died Sept. 3, 2008, at her home.

She was born Oct. 20, 1949, in Kansas City, the daughter of Hardy Alvin and Marjorie Doreen Henry Trent. She was a graduate of Washington High School and Bethany School of Nursing, Kansas City.

She was employed as a registered nurse at Bethany Medical Hospital, Kansas University Hospital, and Providence St. Margaret Hospital in Kansas City. She was a former member of West Haven Baptist Church in Tonganoxie and a current member and active choir member of the Perry United Methodist Church. She was active in the Relay for Life of the American Cancer Society.

She married James W. Looney March 17, 1984, in Tonganoxie. He survives. Other survivors include her children, Sonja A. Trent, Perry, Joseph W. Timm, Tonganoxie, and Edward R. Looney, Topeka; siblings, Robert Trent, Eudora, Sandy Mercer, Ft. Worth, Texas, and Randy Trent, North Kansas City, Mo.; and four grandchildren.

Mrs. Looney was cremated. A memorial service was held Sept. 8 at the church. Memorials can be made to the Relay for Life online at cancer.org or call (800) 227-2345. Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, Topeka, was in charge of arrangements.

Joy Meyers

Joy Garnet Myers, 86, Ft. Collins, Colo., died Sept. 2, 2008, at the Windsor Care Center in Windsor, Colo.

She was born Dec. 4, 1921, at Wessington Springs, S.D., the daughter of John Ralph and Rose Etta Vaughn Coltharp. She spent her early life and school days in South Dakota and Havensville, and had lived in Oskaloosa and Tonganoxie for many years before moving to Colorado. She and her husband owned and operated a restaurant in Colorado.

She married Harlo Elton Myers in January 1941 in California. He preceded her in death Jan. 6, 2008. She is survived by one daughter, Debra “Heidi” Patel, Ft. Collins; one son, Rick L. Myers, Camarillo, Calif.; two sisters, Charlotte Smith, Ozawkie, and Marilyn Hofferber, Denver; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Sept. 6 at Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Oskaloosa. Burial was at Pleasant View Cemetery, Oskaloosa.

Connie Barnett

Connie Marie Barnett, 53, Tonganoxie, died Sept. 7, 2008, at the Tonganoxie Nursing Center.

She was born Sept. 20, 1954, the daughter of Jesse and Thamar Rose Barnett, in Excelsior Springs, Mo. She served in the U.S. Air Force from 1973-1979 and was a homemaker. She was a member of the Jarbalo United Methodist Women, Jarbalo Do-Nothing Club, Jarbalo Red Hat Society, Seven Sisters Quilting Club, Wegener’s Gramulomatosis Support Group of Kansas City Area, and worked as a volunteer for the Good Shepherd Thrift Store, Tonganoxie.

She is survived by one son, Eric Nicholas Barnett, McLouth; her mother, Thamar Barnett, Jarbalo; two brothers, Jesse O. Barnett Jr., Shawnee, and Kipp Barnett, Winchester; and six sisters, Gail R. Fitzwater, Shawnee, Jane Turner, Jarbalo, Kathy Stimac, Tonganoxie, Tammy R. Mooberry, Leavenworth, Lynn A. Heskett, Moran, and Julia D. Carter, Iola.

The funeral will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Jarbalo United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Fall Creek Cemetery, Jarbalo. Memorials can be made to the Good Shepherd Thrift Store, Jarbalo United Methodist Church, or the Cornerstone Family Worship and sent in care of Quisenberry Funeral Home, Box 993, Tonganoxie, 66086.