Obituaries

Franklin Husted, Jr.

John Franklin Husted, Jr., 91, Gardner, Kansas passed away Sunday, September 18, 2022 at Wellsville Health & Rehab, Wellsville, Kansas. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. Saturday, September 24, 2022 with funeral service and Military Honors to follow at 10:00 a.m. at Bruce Funeral Home, 106 S. Center, Gardner, Kansas 66030 (913) 856-7111. Burial at Osawatomie Cemetery, Osawatomie, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to Antioch Baptist Church Youth Group. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com John was born on August 12, 1931 in Beagle, Kansas to John Franklin Husted, Sr. and Viva Gertrude (McDaniel) Husted. He was a lifelong area resident who graduated from Osawatomie High School in 1949. John was a Veteran of the United States Army, serving from 1953-1955. On March 27, 1955 John married Sandra Castor in Paola, Kansas. They were constant companions. He was a farmer, raising cattle and hogs as well as growing row crops. In 1976, John began his own company, Husted Electric, operating for 49 years. He was a member of Antioch Baptist Church, Spring Hill, Kansas, Cole-Smith Post 350 American Legion, Spring Hill, Kansas and Lions Club, Gardner, Kansas. John and Sandra enjoyed square dancing with the Docey Dandies club. He loved to visit with friends and strangers anywhere he went. For many years, John was involved in 4H as a project leader and helped start the Hillsdale Hustlers 4H club. In his spare time, John liked to garden, do yard work, raise flowers, fish and care for his cats. John was preceded in death by his parents; wife Sandra; daughter Malea; brother Clifford Husted and sister Lorene E. Alexander. He is survived by his grandchildren: Layne, Ellie, Evan and Kyle; foster grandchild, Mariah; foster great-grandchild, Oakleigh; foster daughter Skye Starner; son-in-law Milton(Carol) Lutz; brother-in-law Bill Castor (Therese); nephews Carl Bickham and Ronald Husted and niece Christa Kellogg.
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LILLIAN LOUISE MURRAY

Lillian Louise Murray, 88, Gardner, Kansas passed away on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at Nottingham of Olathe. Visitation will be 10:00 a.m.
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Reverend Joseph Patrick Jude Cramer

Beloved Pastor Reverend/ Father Joseph Patrick Jude Cramer died August 30, 2022 at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada at the age 72. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Friday, September 30, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.
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Robert (Bob) Willard Newton

Springfield, Missouri, to Jay Paul Newton, Sr. and Frances (Willard) Newton. When he was 12 years old his family moved to Gardner, Kansas. Bob graduated from Gardner High School in 1961. He attended Kansas City Business College and Emporia State University where he received his degree in business. Bob Married Beverly Goldman onApril 2, 1976. He owned Robert Newton’s Farmers Insurance Agency in Olathe for over 40 years until his retirement. Bob enjoyed his work as an agent and loved spending time with his family. He will be missed by family and friends.
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Laura Janet (Edemann) McKaig

Laura Janet (Edemann) McKaig died September 1, 2022 in Newton, KS. Services will be September 12, 2022 at 1 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 138 E Shawnee St, Gardner with family greeting prior to and following the service. A private family interment will take place. The family requests memorials to the church, or to Gardner Historical Museum, 204 W Main St, Gardner, KS 66030. Arrangements: Bruce Funeral Home, Gardner, KS (913) 856-7111. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com She was born to Thomas Jefferson “Jeff” and Bertha Mae (Doss) Edemann at home in rural Brookfield, MO on April 29, 1926, where they lived until 1939. After a few moves, they eventually settled in Gardner, KS where Laura graduated from the High School in 1943. Laura married Donald “Babe” McKaig on September 4, 1945 in Olathe, KS and they lived in the Gardner-Olathe area their entire married life of 59 years. Babe preceded her in death in 2004.
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Randolph “Randy” Leonard Morin

Randolph “Randy” Leonard Morin, 76, Edgerton, Kansas passed away at his home on Wednesday, August 17, 2022. Memorial service at a future date. Memorial contributions may be made to Prairie Paws, Ottawa, Kansas or American Heart Association. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome Randy was born in Havre, Montana on May 13, 1946 to Leonard Francis and Florence Louise (Doney) Morin. He grew up in Montana. After graduating from CMR high school in 1966, Randy earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology at the University of Montana in 1976. He worked as a roofer for 17 years for Quality Roofing in Great Falls, Montana. Randy worked 22 years as a Furnace Operator at American Chemet, a copper recycling plant in Helena, Montana. On December 28, 1969, Randolph married Barbara Ann Burch in Havre, Montana. He was a member of Divine Mercy Catholic Church, Gardner, Kansas. Randy was a very talented musician playing a variety of instruments, focusing on the guitar and violin He enjoyed writing poems and reading philosophy books. Randy was skilled at working on cars and remodeling homes. He lived in many places including Montana, Idaho, and Missouri before moving to Edgerton in 2015.
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Lillie Marjorie Ludwig

Lillie Marjorie Ludwig, 95, Olathe, Kansas passed away Monday, August 8, 2022 at Good Samaritan Society, Olathe, Kansas. Visitation Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. with the Rosary at 9:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial follows at 10:00 a.m., all at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 625 Freeman Ave., Oakley, Kansas. Inurnment at St. Joseph Cemetery, Oakley, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph’s Catholic School, 725 Freeman Ave, Oakley, KS 67748. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com Lillie was born on April 8, 1927 in Vermillion, Kansas to Jacob Samuel and Minnie Emiline (Noble) McGowan. She attended grade school at Vermillion. In 1941 her parents moved to Goodland, KS. She graduated from Goodland High School in 1945. She attended Northwest Institute of Medical Laboratory Technology at Minneapolis, MN. Upon graduating, she went to work for the doctor at the hospital in Cheyenne Wells, CO. While working there, she met the love of her life, Leo. Lillie married Leo M. Ludwig on May 4, 1947 at the Catholic Church in Goodland, Kansas. They lived in Cheyenne Wells, CO for two years where they were involved in the family grocery business. In 1949 they moved to Oakley, KS and raised five children: Richard, Ronald, Stephen, James, and Paula. Lillie was a homemaker until all her children were in school. She was a volunteer at St. Joseph Catholic School for many years and did the Catholic Church bulletin for 25 years. In 1976, she became a Para for the Oakley Public School. She retired in 1989. Upon their retirement, she and Leo did extensive travelling which included a 6-week tour of Europe. Lillie moved to Olathe in 2013 and attended Divine Mercy Church, Gardner, Kansas.
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Joseph “Joe” James Hunt

80, Gardner, Kansas, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great papa, passed away Saturday, August 13, 2022 at his home. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
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Vera Lee Cowin

Vera Lee Cowin, age 87, died August 6, 2022 at home in Spring Hill, KS. Vera was born January 17, 1935 in Urich, Missouri. Visitation will be 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Thursday, August 11, 2022 at Bruce Funeral Home, 712 S. Webster, Spring Hill, KS. (913) 592-2244. Graveside service will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 12, 2022 at Spring Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com.
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Roberta “Bert” Ellen Gay

Roberta “Bert” Ellen Gay, 89, of Gardner, KS passed away Aug. 3, 2022 at Good Samaritan in Olathe, KS. Rosary will be at 6:00 pm, Mon., Aug. 8, 2022; Visitation follows from 6:30 – 8:00 pm, all at Bruce Funeral Home,106 S. Center, Gardner, KS (913) 856-7111. Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 am Tues., Aug. 9, 2022 at Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 555 W. Main, Gardner, KS. Burial follows at St. Columbia Catholic Cemetery, Gardner, KS. Memorial contributions may be made to Oakbrook Animal Hospital, Gardner, KS. Condolences may be left a t www.brucefuneralhome.com Bert was born in rural Wabaunsee County Kansas on Oct. 19, 1932 to Raymond Alvin and Veronica Hannora (Wayman) Karnes. Her family moved to Gardner, KS in 1942 when she was ten years old from Alma, KS. Bert graduated from Gardner High School in 1950. She married Richard Gene Gay on Oct. 17, 1951 in Gardner. Bert worked as a secretary for Gault-Moore-Stevens Engineering, Gardner, KS, Gardner Community Medical Center, Paniplus Products, Olathe, KS, Clerk of District Court, Johnson County Court House and Shedds Foods, New Century Airport. She was a member of Divine Mercy Catholic Parish where she was a lector, taught religious education, often led the Rosary and was on the church council for 13 years. She also was a member and past-president of the Altar Society as well as a member of the Daughters of Isabella. Bert was chaplain of the Gardner American Legion Auxiliary, served two terms as president of the Gardner Alumni Assoc. and was pastpresident of the Gardner Athena Club. She coached Girls Little League and was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution. Bert enjoyed quilting, gardening, ceramics and playing cards. She was also a member of the Delta Deck Bridge Club and past-president of the Gardner Senior Citizens Group. Bert will be dearly missed by family and friends.
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