In Memoriums

Charles D. Martin, 85, died Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020, at a Topeka hospital.      He was born Dec. 28, 1934, at Junction City, the son of William A. and Marie A. Otnas Martin.  He lived in Ogden until his first grade year, when he and his family moved to the Emmett community.  He graduated from Emmett High School in 1952. …

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Retired Sgt. Norman Gene Pletcher was born to Marvin George Pletcher and Mona Evelyn Allen on April 21, 1934. He passed away Sept. 12, 2020, at the age of 86 years, four months and 22 days. He was born and raised near Lebanon, Kansas. He married Charlotte Louise Figgins on April 17, 1955. He was in the Army for two …

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Galen Charles Bigelow, Sr., 77, of Fort Scott, passed away Oct. 8, 2020. He was born Nov. 8, 1942, in Hiattville, Kansas, the son of Charles William and Luella Elizabeth (Wescoatt) Bigelow. He married Marita Lynne Barr June 7, 1960, in Fort Scott and she survives of the home. Galen graduated from Fort Scott High School with the class of …

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Retired Sgt. 1st Class Robert “Bob” Duncan, 86, rural Burlington, Kansas, passed away at his home on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. Bob was born May 6, 1934, in Emporia, Kansas, the son of Benjamin C. and Violetta M. (McClure) Duncan. He married Torchy Thompson in Emporia on Dec. 15, 1957, and was married 63 years. Bob is survived by his …

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Retired Col. Eldon Eugene Johnson, 81, Topeka, Kansas, passed away at home Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. Eldon was born Oct. 20, 1938, in Winfield, Kansas, to Clarence and Laura Johnson. On June 12, 1960, Eldon and Marilyn Adamson were united in marriage, enjoying over 60 years. He began his Army career stationed in Germany. Eldon transitioned full time to the …

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Retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Cornelius (Van) Vandermotten, 87, Basehor, Kansas, passed away peacefully Oct. 1, 2020.  Van was born June 16, 1933, in Glasgow, Scotland.  His parents were William and Mary Vandermotten, siblings Jean, Frances, Ann, Roderick, Victor, William and Hector, all preceding him in death including two grandsons, Brian Hall and Kyle Lehman, and his best friend Glenda …

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Retired Sgt. 1st Class Robert K. Hitt, 72, formerly of Topeka, Kansas, passed away Thursday, Sept 24, 2020, at Liberty Hospital, Liberty, Missouri. Robert Kenneth Hitt was born Oct. 10, 1947, in Providence, Rhode Island, the son of Reagan and Marie Jeanette (Smith) Hitt. He lived his early years in Dallas, Texas. He attended Bryan Adams High School, and was …

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Capt. Michael Turney, 45, of Gardner, Kansas, passed away on Sept. 11, 2020.  A memorial service will be held on Sept. 28 at 11 a.m. at Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home, 701 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas.  Graveside service will follow at the Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.  Michael was born Jan. 14, 1975, to David Turney and Dana Jessepe.  Michael …

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Retired Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dennis Carroll Diemer, 68, passed away Sept. 15, 2020. He was born October 14, 1951, in Defiance, Ohio, to Carroll Diemer and Helen (Longsmith) Diemer. Dennis served the military for just over 20 years. He spent six years in the Air Force and then served 14 years with the Kansas Army National Guard as a …

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Retired Col. John William (Pat) Mitchell, Jr. passed away after a fierce but brief fight with COVID-19 on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, in Inverness, Florida. A military brat from birth, Pat lived all over God’s green earth, from Fort Dix, New Jersey, where he was born on Sept. 29, 1945, to Misawa, Japan, where he earned the rank of Eagle …

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