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Albert E. "Gene" Wilson
A Funeral service for Albert E. “Gene” Wilson, 65, Lawrence, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 8, 2010 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Interment will take place at Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, Kansas.
Mr. Wilson died Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at Colmery-O’Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka, KS.
Gene was born June 22, 1945, in Weaubleau, MO, the son of Charles Elson and Eva Jane (Ligthle) Wilson.
He had served in the U.S. Army. Mr. Wilson worked in maintenance. He was retired.
He married
Terri Stacy July 1997 in Lawrence, KS. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include three daughters, Dena Barker, TX, Bobbi Bock, West Virginia, and Megan Wilson, Lawrence, KS; two sons, Steven Wilson, Kansas City, KS and Kaiden Wilson, Lawrence, KS; ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren; two brothers, Randy Wilson, Charlotte, NC and Roger Wilson, Kansas City, MO; and five sisters, Janey Wilson-Chase, Holton, KS, Rispie Wilson-Riffe, Lee’s Summit, MO, Laura Wilson-Owens, Philadelphia, TN, Frances Wilson-Crew, Advance, NC, and Joyce Wilson-Brandenburg, Blue Springs, MO.
The family will greet friends from 4 – 6 p.m., Sunday at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
The family suggests donations to the Gene Wilson Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of the mortuary.
B.J. Backman
He is and always will be himself
Memorial services for William James “BJ” Backman, 32, of Eudora will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at Warren McElwain Mortuary. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
BJ died November 5, 2010 at the home of his aunt and uncle, Ruth Ann and Bill Gutierrez, in Lawrence. He was born in Lincoln, Nebraska and was raised in Lawrence. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1996 and was attending the University of Kansas until the time of his illness.
BJ was many things - artist, gamer, son, friend, and most of all, himself. Many people like to quote “to thine own self be true,” but BJ lived it. No one who met him could doubt that he was truly himself and those who loved him loved him for that.
A man of strong opinions, he reserved the strongest for his true calling - art. BJ worked in many mediums, including photography, sculpture, weaving and paint. Whenever someone visited, BJ would always show off his latest artwork and ask for an opinion of it. He wished to be a high school art teacher so that he could inspire kindred talents. He would have made a great one, as those who knew him carry a richer appreciation and understanding of art for knowing him.
He passed surrounded by friends and family, the people who loved him, and will miss him. While the world will be poorer without him in it, his friends and family will always have a special place for him in their hearts and memory. He is truly loved and missed.
He is survived by: his mother and father, Esperanza and Bill Martin of Harlingen, TX; step-brother, Bill Martin of Denver, CO; an uncle who was raised in the family home as a “big brother,” Eric Martin of Lenexa, KS; many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews; his cat, Melvin; and his beloved dogs, Maya and Poe.
The family suggests memorials to Grace Hospice, the LMH Endowment Association (Oncology Center) or the American Cancer Society sent in care of the mortuary at 120 W. 13th, Lawrence, Kansas 66044.
Richard H. Oshel
Funeral services for Richard H. Oshel, 88, Lawrence, KS will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 8, 2010 at the Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. He died on Thursday, November 4, 2010 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
He was born on June 2, 1922 in DeSoto, KS, the son of Arthur Herman and Ethel (Cleek) Oshel.
Mr. Oshel served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was in the Europe Theatre.
He has lived in Lawrence since 1959 after moving from DeSoto. He was a custodian for USD 497, Opal J. Kennedy Grade School for over 20 years. He formerly worked as a carpenter and drove milk trucks.
He was a member the Lawrence Baptist Temple and V.F.W. Post #6654.
He married
Grace A. Miskimen on October 23, 1947 in Olathe, Kansas. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include two daughters; Linda Miller, Shawnee, KS, and Susan Reusch, Lawrence, KS; one son, Ricky Oshel, Lawrence, KS; five grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and 4 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Lynn Oshel in 1997.
The family will greet friends from 7-8:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 7, 2010 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
The family suggests memorials in his name to the Shriners Burn Center for Children or Disabled American Veterans and may be sent in care of the mortuary.
Kathryn Louise Heffner
Kathryn “Kay” Heffner, 83, of Urbana, Ohio, died Saturday, October 30, in Lawrence, Kansas.
She was born March 1, 1927 in Gallipolis, OH, a daughter of Russell Austin and Rose Elsie (Altizer) Saunders.
Mrs. Heffner retired from Lazarus-Macys after 36 years. She had frequent lunches, dinners and vacations with her sisters and sisters-in-law and was very involved and active with her family.
She was a member of Maiden Lane Church of God. She graduated from Urbana Local School and often attended luncheons with other graduates
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Robert Heffner, on December 5, 1975, brothers, Robert Saunders and Alfred Saunders.
Survivors include her children, Mike Heffner and his wife Donna of Lawrence, KS, R. Chris Heffner and his wife Karen of Urbana, Lana Hall and her companion Craig Meredith of Urbana, and Mark Heffner and his wife Tammy of Rochester, NY, grandchildren, R. Chris Heffner and his wife Gia, A.J. Heffner, Matthew Heffner and his wife Olivia, Samantha Hall, Taylor Hall, Ted Heffner, Amanda Heffner, Ashley Heffner, Robert Sievers, Jon Dodson, Anthony Lucero and Andrew Lucero, great grandchildren, Nicholas, Christopher, Declan, Olivia, Finley, Aryia and Langston, sisters, Anne Mullins and her husband Jimmy, Iola Shrader and Yvonne Meredith , sisters-in-law, Jean Saunders and Mickie Saunders and many nieces, nephews and friends.
The family will receive friends 5:00 – 8:00 P.M. Friday, November 5, 2010 in the WALTER & SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 642 S. Main Street, Urbana where funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, November 6, 2010. Burial will follow in Oak Dale Cemetery, Urbana.
Rosemary Hatcher
Funeral services for Rosemary Hatcher, 86, Lawrence, KS will be held 3 p.m. Saturday, November 6, 2010 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence, KS. She died Tuesday, November 2, 2010 at Windsor of Lawrence in Lawrence, Kansas.
She was born on September 6, 1924 in Plainville, KS, the daughter of Otto Theodore and Florence Lorene (Burgell) Thornton.
She worked as a quality auditor at Hallmark Cards for 26 ˝ years before retiring in 1984.
She formerly worked as a switchboard operator in western Kansas and at Stokely-Van Camp in Lawrence.
She married
Kenneth R. Hatcher on October 11, 1952 in Bentonville, AR. He survives of the home.
Other survivors include one sister, Wanda L. Poole, Commerce City, CO; and one brother, Johnnie Keith Thornton, Chase, KS.
The family will greet friends 5 – 6:30 p.m. Friday, at the mortuary in Lawrence.
The family suggests memorials in her name to the Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Association and may be sent in care of the mortuary.
Shirley Lee Schulmeyer
Funeral services for Shirley Lee Schulmeyer,78, Fall River, KS (formerly of Lawrence, KS) will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 6, 2010 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary. Private Burial will be in the Vinland Cemetery. She died November 1, 2010 at Greenwood County Hospital in Eureka, Kansas.
She was born on March 5, 1932 in Lawrence, KS the daughter of David and Marguerite (Vogler) Higgins.
She worked as a CNA, CMA and Dietary Supervisor in several nursing home facilities in Lawrence and surrounding areas. She also worked as a volunteer in the main office at Clinton State Park in Lawrence.
She married
Frederick Ernest “Fred” Schulmeyer on May 18, 1968 in Oskaloosa, KS. He preceded her in death February 7, 2010. She was also preceded in death by her son, Robert Eugene Brown II, two grandchildren, Tammie Lee Williams and Frederick Earnest Schulmeyer and one great grandchild, Baby Schulmeyer.
Survivors include two daughters, Connie Thompson of Higginsville, MO; Judy Faulkner of Severy, KS; one son, Johnny Schulmeyer of Kansas City, MO; two sisters, Helen Miller and Ruby Pringle of Lawrence; one brother, David Higgins of Oskaloosa; seven grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and many friends.
She was always there for anyone that needed any help, advice or just a shoulder to cry on. Spoiling all the grandchildren in the family was the joy of her life. She will be missed greatly by all.
The family will greet friends following the service at the Warren-McElwain Mortuary.
The family requests casual attire.
William J. "Bill" Peak
William J. (Bill) Peak, born October 10, 1925 to James B. & Edna M. Ryan Peak in rural Girard, died in his sleep from natural causes on October 31, 2010.
He attended schools in Kirkwood and Langdon. He worked for Pittsburg Lumber and Bozick Tire Company while living in Pittsburg. Bill entered the Army Air Corp in September, 1943. He served in England during the war as a crew member (radio operator and gunner) on a B24 Liberator aircraft and was discharged with honors in October, 1945.
After the war, he opened a cabinet shop and later became a master builder and contractor. Bill constructed apartment complexes, commercial structures, and private residences across the country. Bill was the co-owner of Mid Plains Construction and founder of Peak Builders in Lawrence where he oversaw such projects as Hawks West and Brandon Woods. Everyone who knew Bill would testify to his integrity, his organization and management skills and his tender spirit. He was loved and respected by countless friends and business associates and adored by his family.
Bill is survived by his wife of twenty-four years LaVaughn Kastl Peak, Additional survivors include: two daughters: Linda (Al) Kent of Jefferson City, MO and Carolyn Sue (Larry) Loy of Mount Vernon, MO and one son: Larry (Evelyn) Peak of Girard, KS; his four step children: Peggy (Mike) Lasher of Nevada, Beverly (Robert) Gossage of Eudora, Marilyn Pearse of Baldwin, and Howard (Kim) Kastl of Lawrence; a combined total of twenty grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and four great great grandchildren; two brothers: Joe Peak of Pelzer, SC and Leo Peak of Pittsburg Ks and three sisters: Margaret Hayden of Topeka, KS, Angie Patterson and Joan McGeorge of Pittsburg Ks, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Eula Anne Peak and Trudy Lewis, one brother, Pat Peak, one nephew Randy Peak, and his stepson and business partner, Curtis Kastl.
The visitation on Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Warren-McElwain Mortuary and the services on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at Clinton Parkway Assembly of God both in Lawrence, Kansas. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Highland Park cemetery in Pittsburg, KS.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given to the Manitowoc Wisconsin Salvation Army Corp.
