HERINGTON – John Frederick Meyer departed this life on June 25, 2019 at St. Luke Living Center in Marion.  He was born on February 6, 1938, at Latimer, to Adolph William and Lydia Virginia (Harmon) Meyer. He had an older sister and brother, Marjorie and William, and a younger brother, Frank. On August 26, 1962, he married Cleda Louise Copple, at Church of Christ Christian, Council Grove, and together they raised five children, Mark, Brian, Toni, Terri, and Eric.

John was a dairy farmer for twenty-seven years.  He served on the Mid America Dairyman Board.  Although he pursued other interests, he would always be a dairyman at heart.  He became a financial planner and he would also work at the  census bureau training and teaching others.  He graduated from Herington High School with the class of 1955.  He attended Latimer grade school all eight years. He loved to laugh, enjoyed the little children, and tried to always be happy when you were around him.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Cleda on November 7, 2012; sister, Marjorie Beasley; brother William Meyer; and his parents. Survivors include three sons, Mark Meyer (wife-Marsha) of Tampa, Brian Meyer (wife-Tammy) of Kansas City, Missouri, Eric Meyer of Austin, Texas; two daughters, Toni Svitak (Jamie Harold) of Woodbine, Terri Meyer of Herington; brother, Frank Meyer (wife-Shirley) of Herington; sister in law, Darlene Meyer; nine grandchildren, Terry, Trent, Taylor, Kaitlyn, Nicholas, Kevin Elizabeth, Kelsey, and Cassie; and 4 great grandchildren, Jace, Cameron, Landon, and Kynlee.

Visitation will be held Thursday, June 27, 2019, at Yazel-Megli-Zeiner Funeral Home in Herington  between 5:00 and 7:00 PM.  Services will be at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church on Friday, June 28, 2019, at 10:00 AM, followed by interment at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery of Latimer.

Memorial contributions have been designated to the Our Redeemer Lutheran Church or the Morris County Hospital Foundation (Nursing Scholarship); and they may be sent to Yazel-Megli-Zeiner Funeral Homes – Herington Chapel, 404 S. Broadway, Herington, KS, 67449-3038.

Dick was born on June 15, 1932 in Marion County Kansas on the farm South of Lincolnville where his parents, Herbert Leslie and Clara Etta (Hammer) Bredemeier lived and passed away at St. Luke Living Center on June 21, 2019 just a few days after his 87th birthday.  Dick attended several rural schools in Marion County before attending Florence High School for two years, and his final two years at Marion High School. Before school age, Dick was given a pony by his father. Dick loved horses and on Sundays would ride his horse everywhere to visit with friends and relatives, sometimes riding at least 10 miles!

After high school, Dick worked at a rock quarry outside of Marion and farmed with his parents. Dick and Evelyn Richmond were married on March 15, 1952. After marriage, Dick managed the Phillips 66 station in Marion until 1967 when he took over management of the Phillips 66 station in Florence, Kansas for three years. Dick and Evelyn then owned the Gambles store in Marion from 1970-1972. From then on until his retirement in 2000, Dick became a “Tool Maker”, working for the Hesston Corporation until 1974 and finishing out his career at Marion Die & Fixture.

Dick and Evelyn loved to camp and were members of the “Marionettes”, camping at various lakes in the region at least once a month. For at least 10 summers, Dick and Evelyn joined their good friends Norman and Rosella Plenert at a campground in south central Colorado. Dick loved trout fishing in the streams of Colorado and also at Rolling River in Missouri.

Dick was an avid sports fan, attending High School football games, American Legion and Babe Ruth games and also officiating for the Ark Valley League football games. Occasionally he would volunteer to officiate for the Junior High football games in Marion. Other hobbies included bowling (a record 288 game high at the Marion bowling alley), singing, dancing, water skiing, trap shooting with the Marion Gun Club and watching old black and white Western movies. Dick always had a big garden until late in life when his Parkinson’s made it too difficult. At this point, his family stepped in and planted a “downsized” garden for him. Dick’s favorite tools were his pocket knife and his True Temper shovel which for many years was used to “plow” his garden.

Dick is survived by his wife Evelyn, sons Don (Donna), Jim, and Michael (Lynne), five grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, and sister Laura Bredemeier of Patalona, California. He was preceded in death by his parents and infant son John Wayne Bredemeier.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Lyle was born Feb 28, 1924 to Clyde and Floris Mowery Dixon on a farm in Kill Creek Township in Osborne, County Kansas. He attended country school at Twin Creek School and later at Osborne, Kansas. He graduated from Osborne High school in 1942 where he met his wife Carol R McNeal. They were married later that year.

He enlisted in U.S Navy in December 1942 serving in the Pacific aboard U.S.S Savo Island, a CVE aircraft carrier until 1945. The ship participated in several invasions in the Philippines, including the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The ship earned the Presidential award for valor.

Following his service he attended college on a GI bill at Oklahoma State University earning a BS in electrical engineering and MS in mathematics He later attended the University of Kansas earning a Ph. D in Mathematics Education. In 1963 he joined the Faculty at Kansas State University where he specialized in training secondary Math teachers and Elementary Teachers. He wrote 2 textbooks, Basic Mathematics and Mathematics for Elementary Teachers. He was awarded NSF grants for in-service training of teachers. He retired Professor Emeritus from KSU. Overall he spent 52 years in the classroom.

He loved to fish and hunt, participated in ham radio. He was a life member of the American legion, VFW, National council of teachers of mathematics, member and former president of the Solar Kiwanis, member of Sons of the American Revolution and active member of the Republican Party. He also served as a member and chairman of the City Planning board and Urban Area Planning board in Manhattan.

He taught Sunday school at various Methodist churches before moving to Manhattan where he joined the First United Methodist church. As a member for over 50 years he served on many committees, the financial board and as a youth leader.

He is survived by his wife Carol R Dixon, daughter Madelyn C. (Terry) Short, daughter Cheri L. (Billie) Vines, grand children: Brian (Amy) Hood, Erin Hood, Jessica Vines (Chris) Guild, Bruce Vines, Taren Vines, Sean (Christina) Wells, Samantha Wells (Eric) Nott, four Great Grandchildren, Brayden Wells, Dixon Nott, Katherine and Audrey Hood.
He was preceded in death by parents and daughter Denise A. (Greg) Wells.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, June 28th, at the First United Methodist Church, 612 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, with Reverend Melanie Nord officiating. Graveside services will be held at 11:30 A.M. Saturday, June 29th, at the Osborne Cemetery in Osborne, KS, with Reverend Dorothy Ellsworth officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, First United Methodist Church in Manhattan, or the First United Methodist Church in Osborne. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.

Case Artman Bonebrake, age 97, joined his sweetheart Marie, as well as his daughter, Veronica in heaven on June 13, 2019. He was born at home in Ash Rock Township, Rooks County, Kansas, the son of Josiah and Edna (Artman) Bonebrake. He married Marie Veronica Rizek November 14, 1942. She passed September 27, 2009.

Case excelled in every endeavor to which he was called: school, marriage, parenthood, military and career. In high school he called signals in football from his tight end position. At Kansas State he was in Blue Key, the outstanding 13 senior men’s honorary designation and a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering before serving as a B-24 pilot in Italy in WWII earning a Bronze Star. He obtained a second degree in Business Administration from KSU upon his return from the war, which might not have occurred had his parachute not absorbed several pieces of flack while bombing Ploesti. He helped Fritz Knorr coach little league baseball in Manhattan for many years. Automobiles were a passion of his and the family driveway and street were lined with his prizes making parking in the garage a skill to be mastered. He was a skilled sports car rallyist, winning several national rallies with Jim Baran and Marie. Because of his curiosity and engineering training, he acquired a 300 SL Mercedes gullwing that no one, even the dealer, could get to run. It took him about a day to fix it.

On his 93rd birthday he celebrated by completing a tandem sky dive out of a perfectly good airplane. Even recently, when travel was more difficult, he communicated with his children and grandchildren by email, sharing jokes and enjoying pictures.

He was the physical plant director at KSU for over twenty years before moving to Tucson, Arizona for a similar position in 1980. He was national Physical Plant Administrators president on two separate occasions. Case and Marie returned to Manhattan in 2007 where they enjoyed life at Meadowlark Hills until her passing in 2009.

He is survived by his sister, Gladys (Dinnie) Ashcraft, Indiana, son, Charles Richard of Topeka, and daughter Cynthia of California, eight grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

A memorial for Case and Marie Bonebrake has been established at the Kansas State University Foundation. Contributions may be sent to KSU Foundation, 1800 Kimball Ave., Ste 200, Manhattan, KS 66502, please indicate fund M47266. To make a gift online, go to www.ksufoundation.org/give/memorials.

A Celebration of Life Reception will be held at Meadowlark Hills -Community Room, 2121 Meadowlark Road in Manhattan on July 27 at 11:00 a.m., with interment later that day near at Ash Rock cemetery near Woodston, Kansas.

Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.

Ronald Eugene Mullinax, age 72, of Manhattan, died June 23rd, 2019, at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan.

Ron was born August 25, 1946, in Norton, Kansas to Earl and Mary Posson and was later adopted by John and Ada Mullinax. He grew up in Lenora, Kansas, graduating from Lenora Rural High School in 1964. After completing a Denver Automotive Institute training program, Ron worked at New Look Body Shop in Norton until 1968. Ron began his long and distinguished military career by enlisting in the Kansas National Guard in 1965 and began his full-time military technician career in 1968 at Organizational Maintenance Shop #1 in Norton. Ron promoted through the enlisted ranks, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant before earning the commission of Warrant Officer. In 1992 Ron was selected as the Armament Supervisor at Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site on Fort Riley, and he moved his family to Manhattan, Kansas. Ron reached his military mandatory retirement age in 2006 and retired at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer Four, with 40 years 11 months, and 3 days of service to the nation. He continued his service to the National Guard and Kansas as the Assistant Site Foreman at the Kansas Readiness Sustainment Maintenance Site, Fort Riley, until he retired in 2015.

Ron married Diane Smith, the absolute love of his life, in Norton on September 11, 1966. They made their home in Norton, then Manhattan KS. They raised two sons, Mike and Mark. Ron was a dedicated family man and always actively supported family activities. He and Diane were church youth group leaders and enjoyed car clubs. Ron was also a Scout Master for both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and was a little league baseball coach. Ron enjoyed a variety of activities from meticulous yard care to almost any outdoor activity, to working on and restoring numerous cars. His greatest love was spending time with family, and doing absolutely anything for his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Ron is survived by his wife Diane, and two sons, Mike and wife Lynette, and Mark and wife Lisa; three grandchildren Dalton, Haley, and Jaxon; two brothers Charles (Bud) and William (Bill) Posson; and one sister, Charlotte Roberts. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Ada Mullinax, and Earl and Mary Posson, and his sister Peggy Kindall.

A celebration of life and funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, June 29th, at First Presbyterian Church, 801 Leavenworth St, Manhattan KS 66502 with Pastor Cam McConnell officiating. Following the service, military funeral honors will be conducted in the church’s memorial garden. A light lunch will be served at the church at the conclusion of the ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Good Shepherd Hospice House, First Presbyterian Church, or the National Guard Museum. Memorials may be dropped off or mailed to Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Ave., Manhattan, Kansas 66502.

Leslie Russell Axton, 67, of Wamego, KS passed away Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at the Topeka Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

On January 3, 1952, Les was born to Donald Lee Axton and Anna Louise Buell in Arkansas City, KS.  Les graduated from USS Grant High School in Oklahoma City, OK in 1970 and attended Kansas State University.  He was united in marriage with Ila Kay Lewis on July 24, 1971 in Wichita, KS.  She survives of the home.

Les was very passionate about his military service.  He entered active duty for the United States Army on October 31, 1973 and made a career of it.  While on duty, Les served as a 1^st Sergeant during Operation Desert Storm.  He was honorably discharged on September 30, 1994 as a Master Sergeant.

He was a member of the Mill Creek Baptist Church in McFarland, KS, the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans.  Les was a master gunsmith and enjoyed fishing with his children when they were younger.

Les is also survived by his mother of Wamego, KS; three sons, Neal Axton (Sarah), Lawrence, KS, Dale Axton (Rachel), St. George, KS, and Kyle Axton; three sisters, Mari Kelley (Steve), Wichita, KS, Brenda Hicks (Mike), Afton, OK, and Eva Reynolds (Chad), Kentucky; and a brother, Harry Axton.

He is preceded in death by his father, Donald Lee Axton, Sr., and a brother, Donald Lee Axton, Jr.

Graveside Service for Les will be at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery in Ft. Riley, KS.  Visitation will take place from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Monday, June 24, 2019 at the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego.  Memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warriors Project, and may be left in care of Stewart Funeral Home, PO Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547.

Carol Marnette Steelsmith, age 79, of Manhattan, Kansas passed away Friday afternoon, June 21, 2019 at Stolzer House/Meadowlark Hills in Manhattan, Kansas.

Carol was born October 28, 1939 in Long Island, Kansas. She was the oldest child of Richard and Lucille Parker and was preceded in death by both of her parents.

On October 24, 1958, she was united in marriage to Melvyn Steelsmith, who preceded her in death on January 12, 2018. They enjoyed 59 years in marriage together, and shared homes in Phillipsburg, Abilene, Topeka, and Manhattan, Kansas.

She is survived by twin siblings: Blaine Parker (Marilyn) of Sylvan Grove and Elaine Nuzum (Paul) of Phillipsburg; 3 children: Curt (Becky) of Manhattan, Rick of Wichita, and Sheri of Tampa, Florida; and 4 grandchildren: Bradley, Kayla, Kyle and Brelle.

In the early years of their marriage, Carol worked at the hospital in Abilene, and at Security Benefit Life and the Topeka Area Vocational Technical School in Topeka. She joined Mel in working at BG Consultants in Manhattan, Kansas, where they were fortunate to have worked together for many years. In her later years she worked various jobs to keep herself busy and really enjoyed her work at Carlson’s Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home.

In the 1960’s they were part of a card group that formed with their very special friends in Abilene. The group met monthly for many years, and to this day continues to meet periodically. Their longtime friendship over the years has included many celebrations from births to golden wedding anniversaries.

Over the years Carol was very active in all the churches that she attended, and really enjoyed her involvement in many capacities at the First Baptist Church in Manhattan for the past 40 years. She was a member of their Wednesday Prayer Group for 15 years and had a small group of women from the church that met regularly for meals, trips and fun get-togethers.

Carol loved the role of mother and grandmother and cherished the time she was able to spend with her children and grandchildren, whether it be crafting, visiting the zoo, traveling, or just enjoying their company.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Friday, June 28, 2019, from 6-8 p.m. at Carlson’s Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home, Manhattan, Kansas.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2019 at the First Baptist Church, 2121 Blue Hills Road, Manhattan, Kansas.

Memorials can be made to the First Baptist Church of Manhattan or Meadowlark Hills Parkinson’s Program (Manhattan, Kansas).