OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Wanda Aileen (Steinhoff) King, 93, of Osage City, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, Kan. She was born May 26, 1930, in Newton, Kan., the daughter of Jess and Effie Fritts Steinhoff.

She attended Osage City High School, and graduated in 1948. Wanda was united in marriage to Edward James King, Oct. 14, 1950, in Osage City. After Ed’s time serving in the Air Force, the couple made their home in Osage City on their farm just north of town.

For most of her life in Osage City, Wanda was an active member of the United Methodist Church. She served as Sunday school superintendent and taught Sunday school for more than 50 years. She was a member of the United Methodist Women and held many other roles in the church. Wanda also served as Cub Scout den mother while her sons were in the Scouts. She also enjoyed her frequent volunteer work with ECAT, part of Harvester’s Food Network.

BURLINGAME, Kan. – Paul Ledgard, age 72, of Burlingame, Kan., passed away Nov. 14, 2023, at Stormont Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan. Paul was born Oct. 15, 1951, in McKeesport, Penn., the son of Walter Ledgard and Anna Mae (Bilak) Criado.

Paul grew up in the south suburban area of Pittsburgh, Penn., graduating from Elizabeth Forward High School with the class of 1969.

Paul worked for U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh in the late 1970s, eventually leaving to become a supervisor for Popeye’s Fried Chicken in New Orleans, La. In 1991 he moved to St. Louis, Mo., and was district manager for Steak ‘n Shake. In 2006 Paul purchased Heartland Steak ‘n Shake, and owned and operated the Topeka area and beyond Steak ‘n Shakes.

Paul was a wonderful business leader and entrepreneur. He was a mentor to many of his employees and was admired by everyone who worked with him. His professional life was very time consuming but when he had time, he loved traveling with his family. He was able to visit many places in the world including Africa, Japan, Australia, Italy, Germany, and Hawaii to name a few. Those trips were very rewarding and pleasing to Paul, especially sharing those moments with his family that he worked so hard to support. He was also an avid football fan, never missing a chance to cheer on his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers or the Kansas City Chiefs. He also loved NASCAR, especially Jeff Gordon. Many people in Burlingame also know he loved classic cars. His maroon 1949 Chevy pick-up was a favorite.

BONNER SPRINGS, Kan. – Betty Dorothy (Weiss) Pollom, 96, passed away Nov. 12, 2023. Betty was born May 24, 1927, in Quenemo, Kan. She was the only daughter of Albert and Marie (Bachert) Weiss.

She was baptized June 16, 1927, at Zion Lutheran Church, Vassar, Kan., and confirmed at a Lutheran church in East Prussia, Germany.

In 1936, after the death of her father, Betty, her mother and her two brothers, Arno and Herbert, moved to Labiau, East Prussia, Germany. Betty and her mother fled from the Russians in January 1945.

They returned to America after World War II and lived in Topeka, Kan. This is where she met Roy Donald Pollom. Betty and Roy were married at St Paul Lutheran Church, April 14, 1957. They moved to Bonner Springs, Kan., and lived in the same house on Allcutt Street for more than 50 years.

CARBONDALE, Kan. – Clinton Lee Vawter, 81, of Carbondale, Kan., passed away Nov. 11, 2023, at Stormont Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan. He was born Feb. 25, 1942, in Wakarusa, Kan., the son of Clarance “Bud” Vawter and Betty (Bodine) Vawter.

He graduated from Carbondale High School with the class of 1960.

He proudly served his country from 1963 to 1985 in the Kansas Army National Guard, attaining the rank of Sgt. First Class. He served in several units throughout Kansas. He was ordered to active duty on May 13, 1968, and stationed at Ft. Carson, Colo., to Company A, 2nd Bn, 137th Infantry. He then served in Vietnam, HHC 184th Ord Bn from December 1968 until December 1969.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Mary Elizabeth Biesemeyer, 97, of Overbrook, Kan., passed away Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook. She was born Oct. 7, 1926, in Boonville, Mo., the daughter of William Buckley and Bessie Pearl (Mosier) Buckley.

She grew up and attended schools in Boonville. She graduated from Boonville Junior-Senior High School with the class of 1944.

She was united in marriage to Howard Hugo Biesemeyer in 1946. They settled and raised their four children at Weatherby Lake., Mo. After 30 years of marriage, they divorced. Then she met and married William “Bill” Turnbaugh, in 1985. At the time she was in New York City, N.Y., working for TWA. She and Bill explored New York City and she had the time of her life.

Prior to having children, Mary acted as the bookkeeper for her brother-in-law’s (Ellsworth “Cass” Cassing) and husband’s heating and air conditioning business, in Boonville. They later moved to Wichita, Kan., then moved to the Kansas City area in 1958. In 1974, she began working for Trans World Airlines in Kansas City, transferring to New York City in 1980 to work at LaGuardia and JFK airports.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Phillip Michael Clark, 81, passed away Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, Kan. He was born on Aug. 30, 1942, in Lakeland, Fla., the son of Worth and Gladys (Ryles) Clark.

Phillip grew up in Lakeland, and lived at St. Charles, Mo., and Lyndon and Scranton, Kan.

Phillip had served in the United States Air Force. He had worked most of his life as a meat cutter in grocery stores, and also worked as a cook.

On Feb. 14, 1966, Phillip was united in marriage to Lavern Crawford, in Valdosta, Ga.