OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Martha A. (Didier) Colstrom, 98, passed away Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, at Peterson Health Care, Osage City, Kan. She was born on Nov. 16, 1918, in Osage City, the daughter of Fernan and Emma Rouviere Didier.

On June 27, 1936, Martha was united in marriage to Clarence C. Colstrom, who preceded her in death on Nov. 27, 1985.

Martha was a life-long resident of the Osage City community. She was a member of the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, where she was involved in many church activities. Her speciality for the Women’s Fall Bazaar was making Swedish rye bread, one year making 98 loaves, all of which were sold. Martha was also involved in community activities, volunteering at Peterson Health Care where she received a 10-year volunteer award, ECAT, Meals on Wheels, and making quilts at the Osage County Senior Center.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Gavona Jean Michaels Martin Hardin, 82, died Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community, Manhattan, Kan. She was born on April 30, 1935, in Olivet, Kan. to Edwin and Pauline (Schrader) Michaels.

The oldest of six siblings, Gavona grew up with her parents, Harold and Pauline Supple, in Michigan Valley, Kan., graduating from Overbrook Rural High School in 1953.  She attended Kansas State University, where she was involved in numerous university groups, serving as president of the school of home economics her senior year, and made many friends.  She graduated with a degree in home economics education and extension in 1957.

On Dec. 22, 1957, she married the love of her life, Walter W. Martin. She spent 11 years traveling the United States as the wife of an Air Force officer. During that time her three children, Julie, Jeff and Michael were born in Georgia, Washington and Alabama.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Wanda Miles, 95, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017, at Osage Nursing Center, Osage City, Kan. She was born on June 28, 1922, in Jefferson City, Mo., the daughter of Ernest and Nellie Blank.

Wanda had worked as a cook for the Hilltop Nursing Home, in Lyndon, Kan., and Petersons Nursing Home, in Osage City. She had been a member of the Lyndon American Legion Auxiliary.

Wanda married Tom Erwin; they later divorced. She then married John Miles; he preceded her in death on June 23, 1992.

MELVERN, Kan. – Wilda “Marie” Hill, 97, passed away on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, at the Presbyterian Manor-Jones Health Center, Emporia, Kan. She was born on Nov. 8, 1919, on a farm near Melvern, Kan., the daughter of Walter and Elsie Patterson White.

Marie had lived most of her life in and around Melvern until moving to a retirement facility in Emporia, in 2006.

On July 16, 1938, Marie married Dave Hill; they were married for nearly 70 years. He passed away on Feb. 24, 2008.

Marie taught in one-room schools throughout Osage County in her early years, did substitute teaching in later years, became the head cook at Melvern Schools, clerked at both grocery stores in Melvern, and helped with the farming operation.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Stephanie Y. Ziegler, 46, of Overbrook, Kan., passed away Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017. She was born April 28, 1971, in Topeka, Kan., the daughter of James Foote and Elaine (Gustin) Nichols.

Stephanie grew up in the Topeka and Carbondale, Kan., area, graduating from Highland Park High School with the class of 1990. She took many classes from Allen County Community College and Washburn University, working towards a degree in education.

On April 8, 1989, Stephanie was united in marriage with Mark Ziegler, at Overbrook Bible Church. They recently celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary. Mark was the love of Stephanie’s life and her perfect match. Their love for one another was evident in all they did together. The biggest prides of Stephanie’s life were her two children, Wyatt and Wynter. She was a huge supporter of their interests and loved watching them participate in their activities.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Ross Gray, 91, passed away on Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, at the Veteran’s Home in Winfield, Kan. He was born on March 21, 1926, in Lyndon, Kan., the son of Wayne and Ruth Rankin Gray.

Ross grew up in Lyndon, where he graduated from Lyndon High School in 1943. He had lived in Hiawatha, Kan., for a time before moving to Topeka, Kan.

Ross served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946 in the Pacific Theater. He and his ship, the U.S.S. Chevalier, were in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrender was signed. He came home to Lyndon and farmed with his dad and brother, Tom, for several years. He then joined the Kansas Highway Patrol and served as a trooper and then pilot, serving for 28 years.  He was a member of the American Legion, the Troopers Association, the Kansas Peace Officers Association, the Susana Wesley United Methodist Church, the Optimist Club, and Moose Lodge.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Inez Marguerite (Mahin) Tasker passed away peacefully in her home Aug. 5, 2017. Inez, known to all as Marguerite, daughter of Rev. Ross Leonard and Rev. Fern Amanda (Haines) Mahin, was born Feb. 10, 1923, on the family farm on Cedar Creek, Smith County, near Cedar, Kan.

She and her siblings, Leila, Franklin, and Duane daily walked the 1 1/2 mile to the Cedar grade school. Later the family moved to Nebraska to pastor the Victor Wesleyan Church where Marguerite attended North Branch Quaker Academy. Graduating at 17 from Red Cloud High School, she attended Miltonvale Wesleyan College, taking the Normal Training course to become an elementary school teacher.

In 1942, Marguerite interviewed with the Delphos School Board and was subsequently hired as the new schoolteacher at Locust Hill, later teaching in other Ottawa County schools, including Delphos for eight years.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Hazel Smith, 95, passed away Sunday, July 30, 2017, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, Kan. She was born on Nov. 5, 1921.

Hazel was married to Arlie Smith in 1947. He died in 2009.

She is survived by their children, Nyla Smith, of Topeka, Kan., Alan Smith and his wife, Susan, Osage City, Kan., and Lana Moore and her husband, Rick, Overbrook; 10 grandchildren; many great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – James Arthur Hamman, 76, passed away Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at his home. He was born Jan. 12, 1941, in Emporia, Kan., the son of Marion Hamman and Bernice (Jones) Winter.

He graduated from Roosevelt High School, in Emporia. He had served in the National Guard and worked for the Santa Fe Railroad on the telegraph and switchboard for many years until he retired in 1992.

OLIVET, Kan. – Clarence Dean Criqui, 82, died Friday, July 15, 2017, in Lansing, Kan. Clarence Dean Criqui was born Aug. 25, 1934, in Olivet, Kan., the son to Clarence Fred and Maggie May (Greenfield) Criqui.

He grew up in the Olivet and Melvern areas, then moved to Hutchinson, Kan., after marriage, and had worked as aircraft assembler for Cessna.

Survivors include a daughter, Sandra K. Schroeder, Hutchinson; two sons, William Criqui, of Missouri, and Dennis Criqui, of California; a sister, Dora (Jim) Flowers, Ottawa, Kan., and a brother, Glen Dale Criqui, Emporia, Kan.

MELVERN, Kan. – Marvin C. Bartlett, 73, passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at St. Francis Hospital, Topeka, Kan. He was born on June 5, 1944, in Burlington Junction, Mo., the son of Garland and Elizabeth Brandon Bartlett.

Marvin had grown up in northwest Missouri and had lived in Topeka for several years before moving to Melvern, Kan., in 1972. He served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. He had worked most of his life as an over the road truck driver.

On Jan. 18, 1964, Marvin married Linda Meyer, in Maryville, Mo.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Sarah Anne Russell, 73, passed away on Sunday, July 16, 2017, at Aldersgate Village, Topeka, Kan. She was born on June 4, 1944, in Topeka, the only child of John and Dorothea “Dot” Roberts Lane.

Sarah had lived most of her life in the Topeka community. She graduated from Washburn Rural High School in 1962, and she had worked as a teacher’s aide in USD 501, and then was a clerk with the Kansas State Supreme Court. Sarah was a member of the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, where she was a member of the Active Prime Timers. She had also been a member of 4-H, Job’s Daughter’s, was active in the Republican Party, and a member of the P.T.O.

On May 1, 1965, Sarah was married to Jereld Hays, in Topeka. They divorced in 1981. Sarah married Ronald Russell on Nov. 30, 1996, in Topeka. Ron preceded her in death on July 18, 2003.

CARBONDALE, Kan. – Warren Lee Wideman, 68, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 16, 2017, at Stormont-Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan. He was born on July 26, 1948, in Emporia, Kan., the son of August and Alberta Lee Wideman.

Warren grew up on a farm outside Olpe, Kan. He attended Maydale Catholic School and the public schools in Olpe, until he graduated from Olpe High School in 1966. After a few years, he moved to Topeka where he met his future wife.

On Feb. 3, 1975, Warren was married to Pamela Ferry, in Topeka. The couple lived in Topeka and Wichita, Kan., until finally settling down in Carbondale, Kan., in 1979.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Betty Pressgrove, 92, passed away on Friday, July 14, 2017, at Peterson Nursing Home, Osage City, Kan. She was born on June 11, 1925, in Barclay, Kan., the only daughter of Louis and Gladys Walker Thompson.

Betty grew up around Osage City, had lived north of Lyndon for several years, and had been back in Osage City since 2012.

Betty had worked for a short time at Hallmark Cards, in Osage City, and had been a homemaker most all of her life. She had attended the Osage City United Methodist Church.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Randolph Wayne “Randy” Sumner, 59, passed away Saturday, July 1, 2017, at his home in Osage City, Kan. He was born Jan. 21, 1958, in Killeen, Texas, the son of Raymond E. and Virginia Hollister Sumner.

Randy attended Shawnee Heights High School, Topeka, Kan., and graduated with the class of 1976. Randy proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps Reserves after high school. Over the next several years Randy traveled throughout the United States mastering his craft as a carpenter.

Randy was joined in marriage to Terri Lank, in August 1991, in Topeka. They would make their home in Osage City in 1996, where he began working at KanBuild Homes. In the years following the closing of the KanBuild plant, Randy traveled with UCI as a form and framing carpenter until his retirement in 2013.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Joseph Leroy Driver, 88, passed from this world on June 29, 2017, at Lexington Park, in Topeka, Kan. Joe was born Oct. 21, 1928, in Quenemo, Kan., to Roy and Hannah (Windett) Driver.

Joe graduated from Quenemo High School in 1946. He joined the Army in November 1951, and was honorably discharged in October 1953, after serving in the Korean Conflict.

On April 4, 1958, he was married to Barbara Lee Harryman, in Kansas City, Mo. She preceded him in death on Jan. 31, 2015.

For many years, Joe and Barbara lived near Quenemo, where he farmed with his brother, Jim Driver.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Agnes L. Schlink, 88, of Overbrook, Kan., passed away Friday, June 30, 2017, at her home. She was born May 6, 1929, in rural Overbrook, the daughter of Joseph Baldwin and Atha Fawl.

She was a lifelong Overbrook resident and graduated from Overbrook High School with the class of 1946. She then attended and graduated from Topeka Business School. Agnes worked for 39 years for the State of Kansas in Topeka. She worked first for the property valuation office and lastly in the department of revenue office, retiring in 1985.

Agnes was a farmwife but not the average farmwife. She loved to help work the cattle or plow the fields with her husband and brother. She was never afraid to get in the middle of the work and get something done. The life of a farmer was something that Agnes truly loved. She also enjoyed carpentry. Claude and Agnes built homes in the Topeka area for a time. Agnes was a hard worker and a good example to all of her family and community.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Dorothy L. Rush, 91, of Topeka, Kan., passed away June 29, 2017, in Topeka. Dorothy was born July 9, 1925, in Topeka, the daughter of Albert and Agnes Sigfried Hefner. She was one of eight children born to this union. The family grew up in Topeka.

Dorothy worked at Jayhawk Janitorial, Manor of Topeka, Prize Package, and was a waitress and manager at the Golden Horseshoe Club.

Dorothy married Glenn Hawks, they later divorced.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – William L. “Bill” Nedeau, 76, passed away on Wednesday, June 28, 2017, at his home in rural Osage City, Kan. He was born Aug. 20, 1940, in Topeka, Kan., the son of Henry William and Kathryn Olga Lue Nedeau.

His early years were spent in Topeka, later he moved with his family to Overbrook, Kan., where his love for dogs began with running beagles, coon dogs and greyhounds as a youth. He graduated from Overbrook High School in 1958.

Bill worked for Midwest Appraisers of Nebraska and the Osage County Appraiser’s Office. He worked for John Hoffer, in Topeka, and Branine Motors, in Osage City. He then retired to become a cowboy on the Porter Ranch, later running parts for NAPA in Osage City. Bill went all over the country judging field trials for the pointing breeds. Bill was also a founding member of the Trailriders Saddle Club.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Ruby Florence Fillmore, 101, passed away Sunday, June 25, 2017, at Osage Nursing Center, Osage City, Kan. Ruby Florence Christesen was born Feb. 18, 1916, in rural Osage City, the daughter of Chris and Florence Bourff Christesen.

She graduated from Osage City High School with the class of 1934.

She was joined in marriage to Walter Duawall on Jan. 20, 1936. The young couple lived in Topeka, Kan., before moving to a farm south of Reading, Kan. During the early years, Ruby did housework. Ruby and Walter moved to Osage City in 1962, where Ruby worked for a local dentist for five years. She later worked at the IGA store before becoming administrator for Mrs. Misner’s nursing home for two years.

READING, Kan. – Barbara J. Peat Schlobohm, 66, passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Reading on Friday, June 23, 2017. Barbara was born in Kansas City, Kan., on Aug. 8, 1950, to Helen (Tomecal) and Wilbur Peat.

She graduated from Washington High School and Kansas City Kansas Community College, and completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Emporia State University. While at Emporia State, Barbara was active in several organizations, including Treble Clef, a select chorale group. Following her ESU graduation, she held various teaching positions at Kansas City Quindara Elementary School, and in North Lyon County and Lebo-Waverly school districts.

Mrs. Schlobohm will be remembered as an accomplished pianist, both at Reading United Methodist Church and most recently as the accompanist for vocal music for the Osage City schools. Through her years in Reading, Barbara served in many volunteer capacities as Sunday school teacher, Girl Scout leader, United Way of the Flint Hills volunteer, and after her retirement from teaching, she was a volunteer reader for Kansas Services for the Blind in the Talking Book program.