James W. Branch, 70, of Topeka, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 27, 2005.Jim was born August 25, 1935 in Marie, Arkansas, the son of James L. and Frances Pearl Perkins Branch. He grew up in the Shafter, California area and attended Shafter High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 3 years as an...

Lester Lyle Crandall, 87, passed away at the HC Manor Care Center in Topeka, Kansas, September 20, 2005. He had resided there four years. He was born May 4, 1918 in a farmhouse outside of Pratt, Kansas to Robert and Della Croxton Crandall. Lester served with distinction in the US Army's 41st field artillery as a forward observer, making three...

Helen L. Burd, 88, of Topeka, passed away on Saturday, September 17, 2005 at her home. She was born on December 30, 1916 in Osage City, the daughter of Axel and Hilda Hedberg. She graduated from Osage City High School in 1934. She resided in Topeka for over 50 years. She was employed in food service by Highland Park High...

John Cyril Drain, 80 of Topeka, passed away on Friday, September 16, 2005 at a local hospital.John was born February 9, 1925 in LaSalle, Illinois, the son of Thomas D. and Catherine Riley Drain. He was a veteran of World War II. John was employed by Shawnee County, retiring in1987.John was a member of the American Legion, Capitol Post #1,...

Vernon Louis Johnson, Sr., affectionately known as "Hawkeye",79 of Topeka, departed this life on Saturday, September 10, 2005 at a local hospital.Vernon was born December 28, 1925 in Fergus Falls, MN.. He was one of four children born to Henry C. and Mattie Wagner Johnson Sr.The family moved to Topeka when he was 6 years old, shortly after his mother's...

Connie Sue Gilmore, 45, Topeka, died Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005 at her home.She was born Nov. 4, 1959 in Topeka, the daughter of Amos and Thelma Page. She lived most of her life in Topeka, attending Crane Junior High and Topeka High School.Mrs. Gilmore worked in the food service industry at Shawnee County Club, and for the past 10 years,...

Joyce Marie Roberts, 64, Topeka, died Friday, September 2, 2005 at Midland Hospice Care.Mrs. Roberts had a home daycare for thirty five years before retiring in 1996. She was born April 19, 1941 in Mankato, MN, the daughter of Waldo Smith and Lottie Kopp Smith Clerico.Mrs. Roberts was a member of Community Church, a prayer warrior and soul winner, and...

Cleo C. Strasser, Jr., 68, Emporia, died Monday, Sept. 5, 2005 at a Topeka nursing home.He was born March 24, 1937 in Emporia, the son of Cleo C. and Martha M. Van Law Strasser. He was a lifelong resident of Emporia.Following his graduation from Emporia High School in 1956, he joined the US Navy. He was stationed at Great Lakes,...

Lois Gertrude Crockett, 89, of Topeka, passed away on Thursday, September 1, 2005 at a local care center.Lois was born September 4, 1915 in Richland, the daughter of Francis A. and Mary E. Pugh Benander. She married Stephen L. Crockett on November 2, 1932. He died September 27, 2002. Survivors include sons; Donald Crockett, Norton; Steve Crockett, Topeka; daughter, Bobbie...

Melba Jean Sidwell, 80, of Topeka, passed away, Sunday, August 28, 2005 at Rolling Hills Health Center. She was born October 29, 1924 in Topeka, Kansas the daughter of Elmer J. and Henrietta Ward Seeley. Melba was a 1942 graduate of Topeka High School. She resided in Topeka from 1924-1945, Waco, TX from 1945-1948, and has remained in Topeka since...

Cliffie E. Gerstner, 91, of Topeka, passed , Saturday, August 27, 2005 at Stormont-Vail. Born May 25, 1914 in Wichita, Kansas the daughter of William and Cliffie Pearl Enfield. She was a graduate of Ft. Hays State Teachers College in 1944 and enjoyed teaching through out Kansas many years. Cliffie received the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Northeast...

Russell L. "Rusty" Roosevelt, 45, of Topeka, passed away on Sunday, August 21, 2005 at his home. He was born on May 6, 1960 in Topeka, the son of Jack N. and Phyllis D. Diehl Roosevelt. He attended schools in Long Beach, CA, Williamstown, NJ. and Washburn Rural High School in Topeka. He was employed by UPS for 20 years...

Ebben D. Wright, 21, of Topeka, passed away August 22,2005.He was born August 7, 1984 in Topeka, the son of Belinda Marie Lewis and Timothy Wright.He was a 2002 graduate of Highland Park High School. He was a video programmer and had held several other jobs. He was involved in a variety of activities, most notably video games and DDR....

Jean Katherine Robinson, 78, of Topeka, passed away on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 at her home. She was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 19, 1926, the daughter of Dennis and Jane Hanley Collins. Mrs. Robinson was a registered nurse and served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. In her retirement, she loved learning and earned a...

Clinton M. Lytle, 86, of Rossville, passed away Monday, August 22 at a Topeka hospital.He was born October 13, 1918 in Kaw Township, Wabaunsee County, the son of John F. and Mary A. Mullens Lytle.He was a member of and retired from Laborers Local # 142 in Topeka. He enjoyed woodworking and was an avid outdoorsman. He married Jessie M....

Grace Dreier, 89, of Topeka, passed away on Monday, August 22, 2005 at Midland Hospice House after a short illness. Grace was born on February 6, 1916 in Stoutland, MO, the daughter of Clyde Crist and Margaret Becker Crist. She grew up on a farm in the Richland community and graduated from Berryton High School in 1934. She married Carl...

Evelyn Scott, 80, of Topeka, passed away on Monday, August 22, 2005 at her residence. She was born on July 22, 1925 in Topeka, the daughter of Jacob and Anna K. Whitman May. She was a life long Topeka resident. She graduated from Topeka High School. She was a seamstress for McEntire Brothers Mattress Company. She married Chester M. Scott....

Flora "Flo" B. Dreier, 84, of Topeka, passed away, Thursday, August 11, 2005 at Midland Hospice House, Topeka. She was born July 5, 1921 in Berryton, Kansas the daughter of Paul F. and Anna Marie Zimmerman Dreier. Flora was a graduate of Berryton High School, Dodds Business College, Topeka, and Pima College, Tucson, AZ. Flo started her career in 1941...

Don A. Coleman, 80, Topeka died Saturday, August 6, 2005 at St. Francis Health Center. He was born May 10, 1925 in Casey, Illinois the son of Lloyd and Ethel Gwynn Coleman.Don grew up in Indianapolis Indiana. He entered the Army Air Force at age 17 where he served in the 8th Air Force in England during World War II....

Denny B. Denny B. "Doc" Holmes, 92, of Topeka, passed away Saturday, July 30 at the Colmery-O'Neil Veterans Hospital.He was born June 3, 1913 in Lebanon, VA, the son of William W. and Maude Boardwine Holmes.He served in the Air Force from 1942 to 1961. After retiring from the Air Force, he went to work at Topeka High School as...