OLIVET, Kan. – Earl Dennis Spatz, 95, Topeka, Kan., passed away Nov. 30, 2022, at McCrite Plaza Health Center. Earl was born Dec. 20, 1926, to Wilson Althouse and Doris Mary (Williams) Spatz, at Lebo, Coffey County, Kan.

Earl graduated from Olivet High School in May 1944. He served in the United States Marine Corps from March 10, 1945, to Aug. 21, 1946. He graduated from Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia, Kan., with a bachelor’s degree in May 1950.

Earl married Josephine Lorraine Thorne, June 3, 1951, at Lebo, and they celebrated 71 years of marriage. They have two daughters, Denise Diane and Cynthia Jo. Earl worked as an accountant and bookkeeper for several companies until September 1955, when he entered employment with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company. He retired from AT&SF as office manager of the communications department on Aug. 17, 1985.

Earl always had a project. He and family members built their retirement home in Olivet, Kan., and they moved into the home in April 1983. He and Josephine built a pole barn together at their house in Olivet after his retirement. He led the demolition of the Olivet School House and built back a community building on the land with the help of many Olivet townspeople. The community surprised him by naming the building after him. He was proud of the “Spatz Community Building.”

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Travis Alan Ragan, 49, of Bowling Green, Ky., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, at Nashville, Tennessee. He was born Nov. 8, 1973, in Ottawa, Kan., the son of William Lee and Brenda Rae (Hohlbauch) Ragan.

He spent most of his youth in Quenemo, Kan., with stops in Winchester, Kan., Clay City, Ill., Hutchinson, Kan., and Columbus, Miss.

Travis was a hard worker, trying his hand at concrete and pavement work, welding, roofing and construction. He was a loving friend and a loving father, son and brother. He will be missed by all who knew him and loved him.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Howard Orville Thompson, 91, passed away Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Osage Nursing Center, Osage City, Kan. He was born Oct. 4, 1931, in Barclay, Kan., the son of Louis C. and Gladys M. Walker Thompson.

He attended Osage City High School and graduated with the class of 1949.

As a teenager he began driving a Lime Truck, which he continued until entering the United States Army at the age of 21. He proudly served during the Korean War from Nov. 6, 1952, until receiving his honorable discharge Aug. 20, 1954, as a corporal.

Howard returned home and took up driving again, spending a majority of his time hauling fuel. He would later take a position as the rural mail carrier for Burlingame. He continued to deliver mail until his retirement at age 67.

LYNDON, Kan. – Lisa Soukup would rather you remember her as someone who adored Mister Rogers, Doctor Who, Llamas, Marvel superheroes, her family, friends and co-workers than a woman who went 1-1 in a battle with breast cancer.

Lisa Soukup, 41, died Nov. 19, 2022, at her home in Lyndon, Kan. Lisa was born June 3, 1981, in Topeka, Kan., to Karl and Mary (Sorrels) Glatt.

She graduated from Marais des Cygnes Valley High School in 1999, Butler County Community College in 2001, and Wichita State University in 2003 with a degree in strategic communications.

Lisa married Tim Soukup on Aug. 4, 2001. They have a daughter, Meredith, who provided them with more than enough challenges and joys.

LYNDON, Kan. – Melville “Hotch” Hanna, 89, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, at his home in Lyndon, Kan. He was born Dec. 23, 1932, in St. Joseph, Mo., the son of Mel and Emma (Stutz) Hanna.

Hotch’s parents moved to Lyndon, Kan., in 1934, when he was 17 months old, and he has lived most of his life in Lyndon.

Hotch graduated from Lyndon High School in 1951, and started working for the Supply Depot at Forbes Field, Topeka. Kan. He then served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955 with the 4th Infantry Division, in Germany. After his discharge, he came back to the Supply Depot for three years until he went to welding trade school. He worked as a welder for Ornamental Iron and Step Company for 11 years; then with Martin Tractor, Topeka, in 1969, until he retired in 1994.

Hotch was a member of the Lyndon American Legion Post 125 and the VFW 6406.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Michael “Tad” Good, 58, was born Nov. 19, 1962, in Salina, Kan., to Floyd and Carolyn Good. He returned to his heavenly home Jan. 3, 2021, due to COVID19.

Tad graduated from Rossville High School in 1981. On July 31, 1982, he married his high school sweetheart, Deb (Carathers) Good.

In 1985, Tad enlisted in the U.S. Army. He joined to be a military police officer and progressed up to a special agent in the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID). After 11.5 years of service, he departed with an honorable discharge in December 1996. He then began a new journey working for the Social Security Administration, Topeka, Kan., where he made his way from a field service specialist to a group supervisor to the facilities project manager and claims authorizer. During the beginning years of working with Social Security Tad also took classes at DeVry University (1998-2001) where he got his Bachelor of Science in business information systems, and graduated with honors Magna Cum Laude. After almost 16 years of working Social Security, he retired. After retiring Tad decided to work as an insurance agent at Integrity Insurance Agency, Topeka, where he worked for 5.5 years.

SCRANTON, Kan. – Ellsworth “Floyd” Good, 84, of Scranton, Kan., passed away peacefully Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, at his home. He was born Sept. 13, 1938, in Herrick, S.D., the son of John Robert Good and Velma (Bell) Good.

The family moved to Fort Scott, Kan., where Floyd attended school and worked on the family farm.

On Nov. 19, 1959, Floyd was united in marriage to Dorothy “Carolyn” Geter, in Wichita, Kan. They shared more than 52 years of marriage before the death of Carolyn on Oct. 5, 2013. They lived in Burlingame, Kan., for 20 years prior to moving to Scranton in 2006.

Floyd was a heavy equipment operator, who owned and operated Good Excavating from 1975 to 1982, in Topeka, Kan. He was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 101 Topeka since Nov. 1, 1957.

QUENEMO, Kan. – Theresa Kay Turner, 58, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, at her home in Quenemo, Kan. She was born Dec. 23, 1963, in Garnett, Kan., the daughter of John and Mary (Mann) Orton.

Theresa had lived in Parker, Centerville, Blue Mound, and Duncan, Neb., and then Quenemo. She graduated from Prairie View High School in 1982.

Theresa worked in home health and was the Quenemo city clerk. She was a volunteer on the Quenemo Fire Department and was also an EMT.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Timoteo Lira, 101, passed away, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at his daughter’s home in Kansas City, Mo. Timoteo was born Feb. 23, 1921, in Osage City, Kan., the son of Nicolas and Gabriela (Moreno) Lira.

He graduated from Osage City High School in 1942. After high school, he served in the United States Army during World War II.

He was joined in marriage to Gladys Romero; she preceded him in death in 1971.

Timoteo worked in maintenance for the Santa Fe Railroad, and retired in 1981. He was an active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, and American Legion Post 198, in Osage City.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Max M. Freeman Jr., 58, passed away Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, at Osage Nursing Center, Osage City, Kan. Max Maynard Freeman Jr. was born Oct. 21, 1964, in Emporia, Kan., the son of Max M. and Sharolet Kay (Hannigan) Freeman Sr.

He graduated from Osage City High School in 1982. He loved clocks, fishing, bowling and baseball, and most of all, going for rides in the pickup with his dad.

Max Jr. will be forever remembered by his father, Max Sr.; a sister, Tina (Lonnie) Beckwith, Topeka, Kan.; a nephew, Corey (Danielle) Roberts, Lawrence, Kan.; and a great-niece, Emersyn Sharolet Roberts, Lawrence.

WICHITA, Kan. – On Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, Linda Jane “Jane” Lane, loving wife and mother of three, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family, at the age of 80. Jane was born May 14, 1942, in Topeka, Kan., to Fred and Elva (Dorman) Smith.

She was raised outside of Burlingame, Kan., on a farm where she had the best of childhoods. She helped by herding the milk cows on Trigger, her best friend, who happened to be a horse. Jane and Trigger’s favorite trick was galloping while Jane balanced standing on Trigger’s bare back, her toes dug in, her hair streaming back, holding onto the reins.

After graduating from Burlingame High School in 1960, Jane attended Emporia State University.

In 1962, Jane married Thomas Martin Lane, of Osage City, Kan. Although they divorced later, Jane and Tom had three beautiful and talented children, who were all raised in Osage County. Secondary to motherhood, but important in Jane’s life was her 36-year banking career, beginning at the First State Bank of Burlingame.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Thomas Wayne Badger, 79, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Stormont-Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan. He was born Aug. 31, 1943, in Scranton, Kan., the son of Glen and Minetta (Finlay) Badger.

Tom received a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University in ag education. He worked as an area conservationist for the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, and retired with more than 35 years of service. He had also worked on the Governor’s Water Quality Project. He served for six years in the Kansas Army National Guard, and was a member of the Stull Community of Faith Church, the Topeka Sunflower Lions Club, and the Vesper Lodge No. 136 in Burlingame A.F.&A.M.

BURLINGAME, Kan. – Dean Strohm, 88, slipped away at home quietly and without fanfare during the noon hour Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, after staring down Parkinson’s disease, two broken hips, and numerous other health challenges over the last 10 plus years. Dean William Strohm was born Feb. 3, 1934, on the family farm northwest of Burlingame, Kan., to William H and Nina Elizabeth Faust Strohm on.

He grew up on the Misty Glenn farm and attended country school, then Auburn Grade School, Auburn, Kan., through the eighth grade. The family then moved to Burlingame in 1946 in the middle of his eighth grade year. He graduated from Burlingame High School.

Dean worked various jobs before joining the Air Force in 1956. He spent time in California and Illinois, and was discharged in April 1959 while stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, in Florida.

He returned to Burlingame, where he met Carolyn Smith on a blind date at the drive-in movie at Osage City, Kan. They married three months later on Aug. 26, 1959. To this union two daughters and a son were born.

Dean worked for the Santa Fe RR as a Carman at the Topeka Shops for 36 years, and was a proud member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Carmen of America union. He spent the majority of his railroad career in the “car shed,” where he built and repaired many freight cars as a skilled welder.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Larry Ray Carlson was born May 9, 1949, in Topeka, Kan., to Wilma Agnes and Robert L. Carlson Sr., and passed away peacefully in his sleep on Oct. 24, 2022, at his home.

Larry was married Jan. 8, 1972, to Deb Boss. They were divorced. To this union were born two sons, Travis Carlson, Topeka, and Brice (Tisha) Carlson, Topeka. He had three grandchildren, Adam, Brody, and Lilly Carlson, who were the loves of his life. He spent countless hours with them at their dance recitals and sporting events, teaching them baseball and fundamentals, and just hanging out at home. Larry counted his sons, daughter-in-law and grandchildren as his greatest blessing.

His brothers and sisters are Stella Dorr, Osage City, Kan., Alan Carlson (Patty), Osage City, Danny Carlson (Betty), Topeka, and Bernadine Faulkner (Phil), Osage City.

He was preceded in death by an angel grandchild; brother, Robert L. (Butch) Carlson Jr.; mother, Wilma; and father, Bob.

Larry attended public school in Osage City, graduating with the class of 1968. He served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Roark, DE/FF 1053, and in recent years he had reconnected with shipmates and attended ship reunions. Larry worked for Del Monte, Quaker Oats, and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Topeka, before he retired several years ago.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Joy Ermine Schwanke was called home to her Heavenly Father on Oct. 24, 2022, at the age of 95. Joy was born on March 21, 1927, in Ottawa, Kan., to Millard and Jessie Rodgers.

The third of four siblings, Joy learned at an early age the importance of family and tradition. Every Sunday the Rodgers family would gather for a meal after church. Her upbringing in Ottawa is where her creative spirit blossomed. As a young lady, Joy loved to go dancing with friends, and dreamt of one day becoming a professional dancer.

Joy was married to the father of her children, Dewey Ira Cripe, from 1947 to 1964. During their marriage, they owned Cripe Grocers, in Lawrence, Kan., and had two children, a daughter, Debra, and a son, Darin.

VASSAR, Kan. – Jette Lee (Howard) Wigger, 88, died Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, at home with family by her side. She was born Jan. 19, 1934, the daughter of Charles W. and Marjorie (Jessop) Howard.

Jette Lee graduated from Michigan Valley High School in 1951. On September 21, 1952, she married Kenneth E. Wigger.

A talented musician, Jette Lee played piano and accordion, sang and yodeled. Known as the Tumbleweed Sweetheart, Jette Lee was the first woman in Kansas with her own radio program. She was a DJ and was the host of the Hillbilly Hayride of KOFO in Ottawa, Kan., from 1950 to 1952.

Jette Lee was a dedicated farm wife and mother who spent her days raising her seven children. Whether gardening, tending chickens, cooking, cleaning or doing laundry, she always had a song in her heart.

Jette Lee worked at Lamont Hill Restaurant as a cook, and at Hilltop Nursing Home as a certified medication aide, where she was awarded the Kansas Nurse Aide of the Year in 1992. She worked hard serving others her entire life, and provided direct end-of-life care and support to several family members.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Karen D. “KW” Whitmer, 80, passed away Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022 at Stormont Vail Hospita, Topeka, Kan. Karen Diane Ehrlich was born March 16, 1942, in Bunker Hill, Kan., the daughter of William and Ruth LaVera (Deines) Ehrlich.

She graduated from Dorrance High School, Dorrance, Kan., in 1960.

Karen was joined in marriage to George M. Whitmer, June 2, 1962, in Russell, Kan. To this union, three children were born, Amy, Jeff and Joel.

She was a homemaker for her family. She enjoyed making her own cards, quilting, painting and playing guitar. She and George enjoyed fishing together.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – George F. Hallowell, 99, passed away, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, at Midland Hospice House, Topeka, Kan. George Fredrick Hallowell was born Jan. 25, 1923, at home in rural Osage County, Kan., the son of Fredrick Charles and Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Sadderman) Hallowell.

George graduated from Osage City High School, Osage City, Kan. He was a life-long resident of Osage County and farmer.

George will be forever remembered by his daughter, Sheila Wells, of Burlingame, Kan.; two sons, Fredrick C. Hallowell and Edward Hallowell, both of Osage City; three grandchildren, Patricia Hays, Kyle Hallowell and Danny Hallowell; and seven great-grandchildren.