Loretta S. Zimmerman, 86, of Overland Park, Kan., passed away peacefully Feb. 6, 2012, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Loretta was born Feb. 17, 1925, near Spring Hill, Kan., to Vernon Curtis and Martha Leora (Nevius) Stiles. She graduated from Spring Hill High School in 1942 and attended classes for one year at Ottawa [...]

Kevin David Pyle, 54, of Gardner, went home on Jan. 26, 2012 after a brave, hard fought battle with a long illness. Kevin was born July 22, 1957 in Emporia, son of David and Lorita Pyle. He graduated in 1975 from Gardner High School, followed by service in the United States Army, in which he [...]

William (Willie ) W. Zander, 55, Edgerton, Kan. passed away after a long illness on Jan. 23, 2012 at his home. Willie was born Dec. 12, 1956 in San Diego, Calif. to John and Hildegard Zander. After graduating from high school in 1975, Willie worked at his own asphalt company until becoming disabled in early [...]

Mark Tyrone Spalding of Gardner, Ks., age 60, died January 18, 2012 at Kansas City Hospice House (Kansas City, MO) after a short battle with cancer. Mark was born January 10, 1952, in Hiawatha, Ks., to Benjamin Jack and Sarah (Clark) Spalding. He grew up in Camdenton, Mo., and attended elementary, junior and senior high [...]

Harvey George Wise, Jr., 76, Gardner, Kan., passed away Jan. 13, 2012 at Olathe Medical Center. Harvey was born April 26, 1935 in Olathe Township, Kan. to Harvey George and Josephine Mary (Meyer) Wise. Harvey served in the U.S. Air Force. He worked as a concrete driver for Botsford in Lenexa and was a radio [...]

Joseph Michael “Mike” Schmidt died Dec. 16 at age 71, in San Rafael, Calif., after a courageous year-long battle with small cell lung cancer. Mr. Schmidt was the beloved husband and best friend of Mary Ann Schmidt; loving father of Mary Ellen (Schmidt) Kissell and Joyce Schmidt, father-in-law of Jeffrey Kissell, cherished grandfather of Andrew [...]

Susan B. McKinney Westhoff, 96, formerly of Gardner, Kan., passed away Dec. 9, 2011 in Phoenix, Ariz. Susan B. McKinney was born March 5, 1915 in a rural farmhouse in eastern Kansas just across the state line from Martin City, Mo. She grew up on a small farm and attended school at the one room [...]