CARBONDALE, Kan. – Ronald Roy Fike, 66, Carbondale, Kan., passed away Sept. 26, 2023, at his residence in Carbondale. Ron was born June 27, 1957, the son of Ralph T. Fike and Katherine L. Shepard in Topeka, Kan.

Ron grew up in numerous parts of the world as a military child until moving with his family to Carbondale as a sophomore in high school. He graduated from Santa Fe Trail High School in the class of 1975.

Ron was a retired construction worker. He held numerous positions over his life, working most of his professional career as a drywall finisher.

Ron was a dedicated man to his family and his community. He was a super fan of the Santa Fe Trail High School Chargers and his passion was the children of the Carbondale community. He volunteered over 40 years of his life as a member of the Carbondale Recreation Commission. He dedicated so much time that the baseball fields are named Fike Field, after Ron and family. He spent hours preparing every year for the annual Easter egg hunt, and was well known throughout Osage County for his various appearances as Santa Claus in parades and events throughout the county.

MICHIGAN VALLEY, Kan. – Darlene Lea Buelke, 82, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, at her home near Michigan Valley, Kan. She was born April 3, 1941, in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of James and Hazel (Syverson) Phipps.

Darlene had lived in Claremore, Okla., for many years before moving to Kansas in 2010.

Darlene was a high school math teacher and then became a school counselor. She had been a member of the Red Hat Society and the Overbrook Friends of the Library.

BURLINGAME, Kan. – Donald Harry Martin, 82, of Burlingame, Kan., passed away Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan. Don was born June 5, 1941, in Rock Creek, Kan., the son of Harry A. and Zora C. (Garner) Martin.

He graduated from Meriden High School in Meriden, Kan.

Don was retired from the United States Postal Service. He was a member of the Army National Guard from 1963 to 1969; and a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Topeka, Kan., since 1977.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Barbara Ann Sandridge, 82, of Overbrook, Kan., passed away Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook. She was born June 8, 1941, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Francis Gray Sr. and Marie (Space) Gray.

Barbara attended schools in Kansas City, Kan.

She enjoyed crafts, watching the KC Chiefs, and her Pepsi.

MELVERN, Kan. – Tonya (Irey) Clark, 49, lost her life in southern California as she was celebrating her birthday on Aug. 23, 2023. She was born Aug. 23, 1974, in Topeka, Kan., the daughter of Ron and Diana (Weiler) Irey.

Tonya grew up in Melvern, Kan., and graduated from Marias des Cygnes High School in 1992. She had lived in Arizona, and had just moved to California to start her dream job as a real estate agent.

Tonya was preceded in death by an infant brother, Jon Irey; and her paternal grandparents, John and Cora Irey, and maternal grandfather, Jon Weiler.

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. – Ronald Bruce Gardner, 68, passed away Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Grand Junction, Colo. He was born Aug. 23, 1955, in Topeka, Kan., the son of Joseph and Eunice (Redenbaugh) Gardner.

Bruce grew up in Osage City, Kan., had lived in the Kansas City area and the San Francisco Bay area, and then settled in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Bruce graduated from Osage City High School and then received a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Kansas. While at KU, he was active in the U.S. Navy ROTC Program.

Bruce worked as a graphic artist for most of his career, having worked for several newspaper, magazine and online publications, and as a freelance artist and photographer. He had been the art director for the San Francisco Giants Baseball team. Bruce was a member of both the Golden Gate and Rocky Mountain Austin Healey Clubs of America, and had been the president of the Kansas City Austin Healey Club of America. He was also a member of the American Institute of Graphic Artists.

VASSAR, Kan. – Timothy David “Tim” Savage, 56, of Vassar, Kan., passed away Sept. 18, 2023, from complications due to a serious vehicle accident. Tim was born March 12, 1967, in Rapid City, S.D. He was adopted by Glenn and Clara (Cunningham) Savage from Hub City, S.D.

Tim graduated from Spirit Lake, Iowa, High School. He graduated from Iowa Lakes Community College with an associate degree in business. Tim also served with the Army National Guard based in Spencer, Iowa. Most currently, Tim has been a route driver for Exodus, of Burlingame, Kan.

Tim’s pride and joy is his granddaughter Aurora Lynn Klingman. His home was filled with bald eagles and bison.

MELVERN, Kan. – Kathleen “Kathy” Ann Young, 71, of Melvern, Kan., passed away after a five-year battle with pancreatic cancer on September 19, 2023. Kathy was born in Topeka, Kansas on March 2, 1952, to Vince Andre Young and Helen Mae Patterson Young.

Kathy owned and operated Kathy’s Kitchen, formerly Whistle Stop Cafe, in Melvern, for approximately 25 years.

Kathy graduated from Melvern High School in 1970, and the University of Hair Design Cosmetology School in 1971.

MICHIGAN VALLEY, Kan. – Steven Eugene Schoepflin, 53, passed away Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, at his home in Michigan Valley, Kan. He was born March 29, 1970, in Ottawa, Kan., the son of DeWayne and Deloris (Jenkins) Schoepflin.

Steve graduated from Pomona High School, Pomona, Kan., in 1988, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Apparel and Textile Marketing from Kansas State University. Steve grew up in Michigan Valley and resided across many cities in his lifetime including Lawrence, Kan., Kansas City, Mo., Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Penn., Columbus, Ohio, and Cincinnati, Ohio.

Moving allowed Steve to show off his home improvement skills and hone his aesthetic sensibilities, building beautiful spaces for his family to live and grow in – architecture and interior design being one of his many passions. Steve was an entrepreneur with a knack for detailed design and business; he was a true “fixer”. His lifelong pursuit of learning started at a young age through his 4-H program. He loved watching K-State football with his family. Steve was a thoughtful and supportive husband, father, son, brother and friend.