The Mercury

Michael G. Redeker, age 72, passed away on Tues, Apr. 16, 2024, at the Good Shepherd Hospice House, Manhattan, KS. He was born on Mar. 10, 1952, to John Jr. and Laura (Dieker) Redeker, in Emporia, KS. Michael married his High School sweetheart Kathy (Schneider) Redeker on Jun. 24, 1972 in Olpe, KS. Michael was a skilled carpenter, and retired from the Emporia State University Carpenter Shop, He got much enjoyment creating treasured keepsakes for his grandchildren, family, and friends, He had a sense of humor and made it his goal to make someone laugh each day. Entertaining family and friends in his shop was one of his favorite pastimes. He enjoyed woodworking, hunting, golfing, and...

Carl Joseph Hoefler, age 95, of Manhattan, died April 16, 2024, at the Good Shepherd Homecare and Hospice House in Manhattan. He was born March 16, 1929, in Westphalia, Kansas, the son of Vincent Joseph and Caroline Ann (Stahl) Hoefler. Carl grew up in rural Westphalia on the family farm and graduated from Westphalia High School. He farmed in the Westphalia area until 1955 when he moved to the Manhattan Area. He then worked for Mertz Farms, R&G Market, Frye Farms and at Doebele IGA Market prior to joining the Manhattan Fire Department. He worked for 22 years as a Fireman and then for 7 years for the Manhattan Water Department. While with the Fire Department he worked for Carl...

Veteran produce industry journalist Tad Thompson succumbed to pancreatic cancer on April 8, 2024. He died in his hometown of Manhattan, KS. He is survived by his wife, Debra (Hardin) Thompson, a native of Manhattan, and his children Reece Everett Thompson and daughter-in-law Rajee Kanagavel, who reside in Cairo, Egypt, as well as daughter Claire Thompson, of Miami. He is also survived by his mother, retired Manhattan real estate developer, Rosalie (Germann) Thompson, and his sister, Teresa Dunn, both of St. Louis, MO. He is also survived by his nieces Tiffany Dunn (Brad Funk) and Andrea Dunn (Steve Winterberg). Preceding Thompson in death were his father, Paul Thompson and Reece and...

Neil F. "Jay" Swander, Jr., 71, passed away April 5, 2024, after a courageous battle with leukemia. He was born on April 4, 1953, in Salina, KS, and spent his final days surrounded by love in Manhattan, KS. To read the complete obituary visit www.midwest-cremation.com.

Delmar Louis Roberson died on April 4, 2024 at his home in Manhattan Kansas. Delmar was born on the family farm north of Burr Oak in Jewell County, Kansas, on June 7, 1937, the youngest of four children of Loren and Ethel "Mae" (Ford) Roberson. His early education was in one-room country schools before attending high school at Miltonvale Wesleyan Academy and then junior college at Miltonvale Wesleyan College where he met the love of his life, Virginia Frances Buck. He earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural education and later a master's degree in education, both from Kansas State University. Delmar and Virginia were married on June 18, 1958, and this union was blessed with four...

James "Jim" Dale Bartlett died April 1, 2024, at Meadowlark Hills in Manhattan, Kansas. He was born to Arthur and Gladys Allen in Ottawa County Kansas on July 7, 1943. His siblings were Robert Allen, Luther Lee Allen, Duane Allen, Lenora Sommerville (Allen), Howard Allen, Phyllis Judd (Allen), Catherine Meats (Bartlett), Edith Jones (Broiles), Esther Fink (Broiles), and Patrick (Floyd) Broiles. He is survived by Catherine, Edith and Patrick. Jim and his sister Catherine were welcomed into the Bartlett and Beauchamp families in 1953 when they were adopted by Dale and Clarice Bartlett (both deceased). Jim attended grade school at an orphanage in Abilene, in Olathe when he was in...

Calvin Duane Cumbie, age 74, of Wamego, passed away on March 30, 2024, at Stormont Vail Health in Topeka. Born in Dallas, TX on March 19, 1950 to R. Denny and Mary Lou Cumbie. Calvin's early years were spent in Brownsboro, TX with his parents and his grandparents Guy and Estelle Cumbie. Calvin's parents later moved to Garland, TX, where he attended South Garland High School. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1968 and honorably discharged in 1972 at the rank of E-3. He married Lynn Woodworth Ferguson in 1974. She had 2 daughters and they went on to have one more. They moved to Manhattan, Kansas in 1975. He worked for Kershaw Ready mix as a dump truck driver for 5 years. He then went...

Robert E. Johnston, age 75, of Manhattan, passed away on March 29, 2024 at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan, Kansas. He was born on June 25, 1948 in Norman, Oklahoma, the son of James and Dorothy (Lang) Johnston. Bob had served several years in the Air Force in California. He also graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor in History. He also worked at Ft. Riley Irwin Army Hospital in the Food Service area. He also worked at the Manhattan Public Library re-shelving books. He loved all kinds of trains, especially the Chessie system his grandpa in Virginia worked on. He could tell you anything and everything about any train ever. He loved collecting model trains and...

Nova Ann Brooks (Bethea), passed away peacefully and surrounded by her family on Friday, March 29, 2024. Nova was born on September 9, 1942 to Fred and Margie Bethea in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She remained in Pine Bluff until 1960, when she and new husband, Leroy Brooks, moved to Manhattan, Kansas where they remained for the next five decades. Nova's determination, patience, and slight madness was evident throughout her life, but perhaps most noticeable when she decided to return to school and pursue a Master's degree in Education while raising three young children. Upon her graduation from Kansas State University, she immediately started working at Morris Hill Elementary, where she...

Dr. Robert Klemm peacefully passed away March 28, 2024, in Topeka, KS. He was a longtime resident of Manhattan, KS and was a professor of Anatomy at Kansas State University. He received his Doctorate in zoology from Southern Illinois University. He was a Korean War Veteran, stationed in Tripoli. In retirement, Bob worked with Sunset Zoo as the inaugural Director of Conservation and Research. He was part of the Kansas Paraguay Partners (KPP) and the Partners of the Americas. Through this partnership, he made several trips to Paraguay and was actively involved with developing and supporting zoological development in Paraguay. A world traveler, Bob was fluent in English, Spanish and German...

Shirley Ann (Sandow) Wendt, age 89, of Manhattan, died March 27, 2024, at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan. She was born February 21, 1935, on the family farm near Hope, Kansas, the daughter of Alvin and Clara (Meuli) Sandow. Shirley graduated from Chapman High School in 1953. On May 25, 1956, at New Basel Church south of Abilene, she was married to Eugene George Wendt. They moved to Manhattan in 1961. Shirley worked as a Life Underwriter for Kansas Farm Bureau Life Company for 30 years, retiring in 1997. She enjoyed reading, baking, flowers and traveling. Her and Eugene had traveled to all the lower 48 states, most of southern Canada, and had visited all of the...

Glennard Andrew Yordy, Sr. Glennard Andrew Yordy, Sr., 93 years of age, died at the Leonardville Nursing Home on March 25, 2024. He was born to Dwight and Irma Yordy on August 6, 1930, in Detroit, Michigan. When he was 6 years of age, the family moved to the farm near Brookville, KS. His elementary education was in a one room schoolhouse and finished his high school education at Brookville, KS. He later married Joan Darlene Stirn Yordy of Tescott, KS on October 29, 1949. He made a career in the Air Force and rose to the rank of Tech Sergeant. He was stationed in Missouri, Colorado, Texas, South Carolina, Germany, Philippine Islands, Lawrence, Kansas, Libya and Massachusetts before...

Janet S. (Krehbiel) McGillivary, 61, of Manhattan, passed away March 22, 2024, at Good Shepherd Hospice House. She was born in 1962 in Kingman, KS, to Merlin and Kerren Krehbiel. She was preceded in death by her mother, Kerren (Ewy) Krehbiel. She is survived by her husband, Larry McGillivary, father Merlin Krehbiel (LaVerta Moody), siblings Joni Jantz (Allen) and Michael Krehbiel (Kris), nieces and nephews Kylie Weber (Jake), Dylan Jantz (Elise Fast), and Amber Hoogerheyde (Jake), and two grand-nephews. Plans for a Celebration of Life service will be announced soon via the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen website (www.ymlfuneralhome.com). A reception and sharing time will follow. In lieu of...

Linda Lee Toy, 81, of Manhattan, died March 20, 2024 at her home in Manhattan. Mrs. Toy graduated from Manhattan High School in 1960. She attended Kansas State University. She married Michael Toy on August 21, 1965 then worked as a secretary in the KSU Department of Electrical Engineering and retired in the Department of Agricultural Academic Programs Office in 2000. She was born June 21, 1942 in Manhattan, the daughter of Leon and Alberta Matthews. Her parents and one brother, Milton Matthews, Newton, preceded her in death. In earlier years, she was involved in numerous community activities. She was a member of the Mercy Regional Hospital Auxiliary and the First Presbyterian...

Esther I. (Graves) Umscheid, age 77, of Manhattan, died March 19, 2024, at her residence. She was born December 20, 1946, in Westmoreland, Kansas, the daughter of Ross W. and Lena M. (Davis) Graves. Esther graduated from Manhattan High School. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother. She was the bookkeeper for her husband Clay, provided daycare for many years and was a wonderful cake baker and decorator. Esther was a devoted member of Seven Dolors Catholic Church and was a member of the American Legion and Veteran of Foreign Wars Auxiliaries. On March 15, 1963, she was married to Clayton J. Umscheid. Clay survives of the home. Additional survivors include her three...

Janice Franklin May Janice May, age 83, of Manhattan, passed away March 19, 2024 in Manhattan. Janice was born January 28, 1941 in the mountains of Ashland, Kentucky to Milton and Lelah Franklin. She was a fireball from the start, with a smile that lit up a room. She met Lowell on a blind date (on St Patrick's Day, 1962) while she was attending Taylor University. They were married on August, 31 1963 and, after a short time in Indiana, they embraced the Army life, traveling, making friends all over the world, and always welcoming newcomers to the neighborhood. She never met a stranger. Language was never a barrier, which led to "adopted" family members in Germany and throughout the Army...

Bernard "Bernie" Dale Behrends, age 84, of Manhattan, died March 17, 2024, at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He was born November 21, 1939, in Odell, Nebraska, the son of Berend and Foolke Viola (Gastman) Behrends. Bernie attended Eighteen School, District # 69, Marysville, and then graduated from Marysville High School. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1962 with his B.S. in Industrial Education and received his M.S. in Industrial Education from Pittsburg State University. He taught for 26 years in Industrial Education at USD # 383 in Manhattan, Preston High School in Preston, KS, and Leyden Community School in Franklin Park, IL. He also taught for 24 years...

H. Philip Howe, age 91 of Manhattan died on Sunday March 17th peacefully at his home. Phil was born on July 3rd, 1932 in Manhattan, the son of Harold and Ruth Howe. He grew up in Manhattan and attended the Sacred Heart Academy schools. Even though Phil spent most of his time growing up in Manhattan, in the summer Phil would spend time on their family farms. Phil's dad grew up on a farm near Chapman and Phil's mom grew up on a farm near Solomon. Phil would talk fondly about being on the farms - fishing in the river and helping with the harvest and other farm activities. Phil graduated from the Sacred Heart Academy in Manhattan in the spring of 1950. That fall, Phil enrolled at...

Otto John McMillin, age 84, of Junction City, Kansas passed away March 16, 2024 at the Ascension Living Via Christi Village in Manhattan. Otto was born on December 11, 1939 in Junction City, the son of Raymond A. and Mildred (Castleman) McMillin. He attended school at St. Xavier Catholic School in Junction City. Otto joined the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. He retired after 20 years of service in the Army. Otto attended Manhattan Vo-Tech and earned his degree in air conditioning and refrigeration in 1983. He worked for many years for the City Ice Company as Vice President of the company. He later worked for the Geary County Law Enforcement as a jailor from 1992 until 2003. He...

Alayne Grace Novotny, age 22, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away March 16, 2024 in Overland Park. She was born on March 30, 2001 in Manhattan, the daughter of Willie and Kylie (Bramhall) Novotny. She grew up in Manhattan and graduated from Manhattan High School with the class of 2019. Alayne grace was the most carefree person who always found the good in everyone. Grace couldn't have been a more perfect middle name for someone who emitted so much gracefulness, no matter what cards life dealt her. Alayne was known for her carefree and loving nature, bringing joy and happiness to all who knew her. Her beauty, both inside and out, radiated in every aspect of her life. Her carefree...

Frank Parrett, age 87, of Manhattan, passed away March 13, 2024. The family will greet friends during a visitation from 1:00 until 2:00p.m. Friday April 5, 2024 at the the funeral home. Memorial services will be held at 2:00p.m. Friday April 5, 2024 at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to either Wellsprings of Westmoreland or Purple Power Animal Welfare Society. Contributions may be sent in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502. For complete obituary information please visit the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com