All Obituaries

Vincent Clare Van Velzer, 99, passed away quietly Saturday, February 20, 2021 in Overbrook Kansas. He was born April 9, 1921 in Los Angeles, California to Elsie and Francis Clare Van Velzer. Vincent’s loving wife Mary Louise pre-deceased him in April of 2017. He is survived by his sister Patricia, his sons Mike, Bill, and Paul, their wives Lynn, Karen, and Teddy, nephews Howard and Rob Heard, Howard’s wife Bonnie, nephew Vance Van Velzer, his wife Livia and two sons Eric and...

Elma “Dee” Myers, 103, of Topeka, Kansas passed away Friday, February 19, 2021 at Marion Assisted Living in Marion, KS. She was born December 9, 1917 in Maryville, Missouri the daughter of D. Otis Shipps and Esda (Wright) Shipps.  She graduated from Ottawa High School in 1935. She was united in marriage to Charles A. Myers on March 21, 1936 at Harrisonville, Missouri.  They shared over seventy years of marriage before the death of her husband on October 26, 2006. Dee...

Michael Catanzaro, 60, of Ottawa, KS died Saturday, February 13, 2021 at his home with his family there to comfort him. He was born January 3, 1961 in Philadelphia, PA the son of Theresa (Kelly) Catanzaro.  He grew up in the Philadelphia area graduating from Norristown Area High School with the class of 1979.  Michael was a Baker at Kaplan’s New Model Bakery in Philadelphia, PA for over twenty years. Michael was an avid reader.  He loved Sci-fi books and movies and...

Kenneth Claude Graybeal, 63, of Lyndon, KS died Friday, February 12, 2021 at his home. He was born September 18, 1957 in Topeka, Kansas the son of June and Bertha (Baysinger) Graybeal.  He graduated from Lyndon High School in 1976.  Kenneth grew up and worked on a dairy farm.  He also worked as a construction worker and a truck driver for Frito-Lay and KEIM over the years. He loved to talk and tell stories.  You could often find him running around at auctions.  He...

Lois Harris, 100, died Friday, February 12, 2021 at Brookside Assisted Living in Overbrook.  Lois was born in Welda, Kansas the daughter of Frank and Maggie Watkins.  She attended school at Welda and College at Allen County and Pittsburgh State earning a teaching degree. She married Delbert Harris of Overbrook on June 1, 1947 and resided in the Overbrook area the rest of her life. She was a farm wife. From this union, two children were born, Galen and Nelta. Lois was a great pie...

Helen Ruth Hoff died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She was 92 years old. Ruth was born January 9, 1929, in Park, Kansas. She was the daughter of John and Dorothy (Dreher) Krannawitter. Ruth graduated from Hoxie High School in 1947 and worked as a telephone operator in Colby, KS. On November 18, 1950, she married Robert Hoff and went on to celebrate 54 years of marriage before his death in 2004. Ruth then moved to Baldwin City, KS and enjoyed her life there as a...

Judith Lousie Wagner of Baldwin City, Kansas, passed away peacefully at her home Tuesday, February 9th, 2021. She was 75 years old.  She was born January 5th, 1946 in Lawrence, Kansas, to Donald F. McMillen and Lucille (Robertson) McMillen. She grew up in Baldwin City where she graduated from Baldwin High School in 1964. She married Roger Wagner on January 20, 1967 and celebrated 54 years of marriage before preceding him in death. After high school she earned a cosmetology license and...

Charlene L. McClain, 84, Carbondale, KS, passed away Monday, February 8, 2021 Auburn Homestead, Auburn, KS.  She was born October 11, 1936 in Leroy, KS the daughter of Grover Edwards and Murel Brown. She grew up in the Topeka, KS area graduating from Topeka Seaman High School with the class of 1955.    On February 8, 1955 Charlene was united in marriage to Jack H. McClain in Topeka, KS.  Together they lived in Topeka until moving to Carbondale, KS in 1963 living...

Betty Ann (Strickland) Foltz, 88, of Ottawa passed away on Friday, February 5, 2021. An avid Kansas sports fan, she spent many a March watching The Madness of KU, as well as fervently cheering on her beloved Royals and Chiefs. Although born towards the end of the Depression, Betty’s childhood was rich with exploring the creeks and forests surrounding her family’s small farming residence near the campus of Ottawa University.  Betty attended grade school in the original...

Michael Dean Post, 68, of Lyndon, KS died January 26, 2021 at his home. He was born June 8, 1952 in Miles City, Montana the son of Gerald Dean Post and Lila Mae (Waterbury) Post.  He graduated from Harriman High School with the class of 1970.  Following graduation Michael enlisted in the United States Air Force proudly serving his country for twenty years.  He began his service as a cook eventually becoming an auto body instructor attaining the rank of Technical...