Fay “Andy” Atchison, 75, of Manhattan, KS, passed away on Tuesday, July 16, 2019.

He was born in Peoria, IL on April 20, 1944, to Callie (Guthery) and Ray Atchison.
He attended High School at Champagne High, before joining the military. He served in the U.S. Army as a MSG during the Vietnam War. During that time he earned 2 Bronze Stars one with the 1st Oak Leaf Cluster; Meritorious Service Medal; an Army commendation medal; and a good conduct medal.

On January 21, 1972, he married Betty J (Emal), Atchison. Together they had seven children.

He was a member of Westview Community Church.

Andy worked as a Traffic Manager at Ft. Riley Civil Service until his retirement.

He is survived by his two daughters, Angela (Ted Point) Portz, of Nampa, ID; Diana (Scott) McElwain, of Manhattan, KS; his four sons Scott (Elisa) Portz, of Independence, MO; Kit (Lisa) Portz, of St. George, KS; Douglas Atchison, of Citra, FL; Chip (Tina) Portz, of Odessa, MO; three sisters, MaDonna Bailey, of Mahomet, IL; Carol Atchison, of Lake City, FL; Joann Barone, of Loudon, TN. two brothers, Arthur “Bud” Atchison, of Lady Lake, FL; Roger Atchison, of Mansfield, IL; 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Betty Atchison, and daughter LaTanya Klissus.

Funeral Service will be held at 9:00 AM on Saturday, July 20th, 2019 at Westview Community Church in Manhattan, KS. Visitation will be from 6:00 PM till 8:00 PM on Friday, July 19, 2019. Interment with Military Honors will be immediately following the service at Sunrise Cemetery Manhattan, KS.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Good Shepherd Home Care and Hospice 3801 Vanesta Dr. Manhattan, Kansas 66503.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Carlson’s Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home and Cremation.

 

 

 

 

Robin Elizabeth Rapp was born April 19, 1953, at the Norton County Hospital and made her home in Norcatur, KS with parents, Bob and Bonnie Rapp and brothers, Barney and Bill. Brother Ben was born five years later. Robin thought she was adopted in her early years because she was the only Rapp whose first name started with an “R” instead of a “B”. On July 13, 2019, Robin won her battle with cancer and is now in the arms of Jesus.

She attended the Norcatur Public Schools until after her junior year when the school closed. She graduated from Norton Community High School in 1971. Robin took classes from Kansas State University and Colby Community College.

Three children were born, Cher, Kyle, and Laci, to her first marriage. Robin worked as an Elementary Secretary and Lunch Room Accountant at the Logan Public Schools until moving to Manhattan to work at Manhattan Christian College in 1991. She married Eric Norris in 1992 and has worked in various positions with Gardner & White, the Kansas Pork Producers Council, Duke University, KS Department of Health and Environment, the KS District of the Wesleyan Church and most recently served as Vice-President of Operations for DPI Benefits.

Robin’s spiritual life was always very important to her even from a very young age. She held memberships in St. Marks Lutheran Church in Norcatur, the Christian Church Logan, the Chapel Hill Wesleyan Church in Chapel Hill, NC, Heritage Park Wesleyan Church in Topeka, Real Life Church in Manhattan and currently at Westview Community Church here in Manhattan. She was a church pianist and accompanist for over 40 years while also serving in many other capacities of the church.

Robin was an avid fan of KSU, Royals, and Chiefs. Sports were a priority on the TV. She would wear her headset around the house while cleaning to catch whatever sporting event was on the air.

She deeply loved life, her God, her husband, children, grandchildren, family, and friends. She is survived by her husband, Eric Norris of Manhattan. Her daughter, Cher Greving (Colby) of Prairie View, her son, Kyle Grunert (Heather) of Topeka, her daughter, Laci Vitanza (Stephen) of Houston, TX, her step-son, Mitchell Dean (Courtney) of Hazen, ND. Her nine grandchildren: Caley Ann, Mariah Paige, Christen Brooke, Colton Keith, Kade Michael, Camryn Faith, Avery Elizabeth, Bryce Evan, and Travis Blake.

Grandma Robin was also a “Grandma” to all of her grandchildren’s’ friends. She always provided an open door with comfy beds and yummy food. She gave them words of encouragement in their activities and inspired them to grow in their faith.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Westview Community Church, 615 Gillespie Dr., Manhattan, KS at 3:30 PM; Friday, July 19th, 2019. Services will be conducted by Pastor Ed Rotz, District Superintendent of Kansas Wesleyan Church and Pastor Brian Smith, lead pastor of Westview Community Church. Music will be provided by Lance Stafford, Cloverton, Lenay Marteney, Westview Worship Team and soloist, Jack Lousch. Contributions can be made in memory of Robin to the Reach Campaign of Westview Community Church.

To celebrate Robin’s passions in life, there will be a “Tailgate” gathering immediately following the service at the church. All friends and family are encouraged to wear K-state, KC Chiefs, Royals or your favorite teams’ attire!

Laurence Dean Gibson, was born January 22, 1932, at Herington, Kansas, to Dean Oren and Thekla L. (Diekmann) Gibson.  He departed this life July 10, 2019, at the Flint Hills Care Center of Emporia, Kansas.

Larry graduated from Herington High School with the class of 1951.  He attended business colleges at Hutchinson and Great Bend.  He served in the U. S. Air Force twenty years and 25 days.  He served during Korean and Vietnam Wars.  He became a police officer and was employed at different times at cities of Herington, Woodbine, and Great Bend.

Preceding him in death, was an infant son, Laurence Dean Gibson, Jr., on September 8, 1976, and his parents.

Larry married Barbra Jean LaBrant on August 23, 1986, at the First Christian Church of Herington.  She survives of the home in Emporia.  He is also survived by a son, Ray Gibson (Ernestine) of Sugar Creek, MO; a daughter, Melinda Calaman (John) of Emporia; one sister, Shirley Timm (Delbert) of Wichita; step-daughter, Kathy Biera (Eddie) of Hutchinson; step-son, Danny Skinner (Stephanie) of Emporia; two grandchildren, Makayla and Michael Gibson; 2 step-grandchildren, Ryan and Amber Moss; and seventeen great grandchildren.

His bequest following his death, was to the Dept. of Anatomy & Cell Biology of the University of Kansas, School of Medicine.

Funeral Services will be at a later date.

Dee’s life began on July 15, 1934, in Newton.  She is the daughter of Clifford and Helen (Powell) Decker.  Dee is a graduate of Newton High School and attended Bethel College.  She was united in marriage to William “Bill” Mathews on December 6th, 1958, in Newton.  Dee was employed at Wheat State Manor in Whitewater for 28 years, serving as a cook and activity director.  She served as an Avon lady for over 50 years.  Dee loved to cook and bake, often giving away her delicious baked goods for bake sales and to friends.  Dee was a faithful and faith-filled member of the Whitewater Community Church, her church family was her life and sharing her faith was one of her precious gifts.  Dee was involved in the Awana program at church for over 32 years and active at the Ponca Bible Camp in Ponca, Arkansas for over 50 years.

She is survived by her loving family which includes her son Erick Mathews of Goddard, daughters Cathy Freimiller of Gas City and Marlys Mathews of Denver, CO; her grandchildren Jennifer (Jared) Conary of Wichita, Richard Freimiller of Norton, Calah Mathews of Wichita, Matthew (Charmy) Freimiller of Surf City, NC and Aaron Mathews of Goddard; great-grandchildren Hayden Freimiller, Ava Freimiller, Israel Wheeler, Lila Wheeler, Stella Freimiller and Teagan Freimiller and her sister Donna Decker of Clever, MO.  Dee passed away on July 12, 2019 at Wheat State Manor.  She is preceded in death by her parents and husband Bill.

Her family will gather with friends on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. at Lamb Funeral Home in Whitewater.  Her funeral service will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at Whitewater Community Church led by Pastor Timothy Conner.  Dee will be laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery, Newton.  Memorial contributions in her name may be directed to Ponca Bible Camp Scholarships in care of Whitewater Community Church.

Wilma’s life began on June 13, 1925, the daughter of George Ellsworth and Alice Margaret (Corman) Cornelius on a farm near Oil Hill, Kansas. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior when she was 9 years old. She attended schools in Whitewater and married Roy B. Carter, Jr. on March 8, 1946, in Hagerstown, Maryland. She attended Wichita School of Practical Nursing and graduated as an LPN in 1968.

Wilma was a nurse aide at Bethel Deaconess Hospital and Presbyterian Manor in Newton before she graduated from nursing school. She practiced as an LPN at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, and was the night charge nurse at Wheat State Manor in Whitewater. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, First United Methodist Church in Newton, and attended the First Baptist Church in Peabody.  She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, her garden, word search and crossword puzzles, coloring and watching game shows. She loved the Lord, shared her faith and prayed for those folks that came to visit her.

Her loving family includes her daughters, Sharon Kay Albert (Fred) of Rockaway Beach, Missouri, Beverley “Jean” Long of Whitewater; son, Roy “Bruce” Carter (Pam) of Peabody; one grandchild, Alyssa Carter of Newton; numerous nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death her parents; husband, Roy in 2003; 6 brothers, George, Lawrence, Charles, Jacob, Robert and Joseph Cornelius; 2 sisters, Margaret Cade and Mildred Brown; son-in-law, James Long. Wilma passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 13, 2019, having reached the age of 94 years old.

Her family will gather with friends on Thursday, July 18, from 5-7 p.m. Her funeral service will be held Friday, July 19, at 10:00 a.m. both at the Federated Church in Whitewater with Pastor Rodger Charles officiating. Interment will follow in Brainerd Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be directed to the American Heart Association, 1861 N. Rock Road, Suite 380, Wichita, Kansas 67206 or American Diabetes Association, 608 W. Douglas, Suite 100, Wichita, Kansas 67203 or Good Shepherd Hospice, 7829 E. Rockhill St., Suite 403, Wichita, Kansas 67206.

 

Hermelinda M. “Ms. Mellie” Shawler, 79, of Junction City, KS, passed away on July 8, 2019.

Visitation will be held Monday, July 15, 2019, from 6:00 pm. to 7:30 pm. at the Mass-Hinitt Funeral Chapel, 805 Caroline Ave., Junction City, KS.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, 11:30 am. at the Junction City Church of the Nazarene, 1025 N. Washington St., Junction City, Kansas.

Burial will follow the service at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Fort Riley, 5181 Wildcat Creek Road, Manhattan, KS.

Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association 5375 W 7th Topeka, KS 66606.

Andrew Sackrider, 82, of Wamego, KS passed away Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at the Westy Care Home in Westmoreland, KS.

Funeral Service for Andy will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego.  Burial will follow in the St. Bernard Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, July 15th at the funeral home.

Note: A full obituary will be updated at a later time by the Stewart Funeral Home.