Deaths and funerals

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Mar 30, 2002 by Capital-Journal

Audrey Bennett

STRONG CITY --- Audrey John Bennett, 93, Strong City, died Tuesday, March 26, 2002, at an Emporia hospital.

Mr. Bennett worked on a Santa Fe Railway bridge crew, and he was a veteran of World War II.

He was born April 22, 1908, in Dardanelle, Ark., the son of James Abraham Bennett and Kathryn McNulty. He had lived in Strong City the past 35 years.

He married Helen Fritze on Dec. 2, 1967, in Strong City. She died in January 1998.

Survivors include three children, Joe Fritze, Olathe, Andrea Fritze, Rogers, Ark., and Julia Fritze, Kiowa; two brothers, Wilfred Bennett, El Reno, Okla., Fabian Bennett, Oklahoma City; two sisters, Dorothy Bennett, Oklahoma City, and Rita Connell, Omaha, Neb.; and three grandchildren.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today at St. Anthony's Church in Strong City. Burial will be at the Strong City Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Chase County Senior Center and sent in care of Croy Funeral Home in Cottonwood Falls.

Jeffrey Bronaugh

Jeffrey J. Bronaugh, 40, Topeka, died Wednesday, March 27, 2002, at his home.

Mr. Bronaugh had been a boilermaker and had worked in the Topeka and Kansas City area through the Boilermaker Union Local No. 83 of Kansas City, Mo. He also was in the automobile auction and used vehicle business for many years.

He was born April 9, 1961, in Topeka, the son of John J. "Jack" and Maxine Deiter Bronaugh. He was reared in Maple Hill and graduated from St. Marys High school in 1979. He attended Butler County Community College and Washburn University, where he played basketball.

Mr. Bronaugh was a member of the Catholic Church and the Boilermakers Union.

He married Debi Jacobson. They were divorced.

Survivors include his parents, John J. "Jack" and Maxine Bronaugh, Maple Hill.

Mr. Bronaugh was preceded in death by a son, Dustin "Dusty" J. Bronaugh, on April 18, 2001.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Maple Hill. Mr. Bronaugh will lie in state after 2 p.m. Sunday at Piper-Verschelden Funeral Home in St. Marys, where a prayer service will be at 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Maple Hill Senior Citizens Center or to the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church Building Fund and sent in care of the funeral home.

Eldon Gilleece

VALLEY FALLS --- Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today at Valley Falls United Methodist Church for Eldon W. "Buck" Gilleece, 46, Valley Falls. He was found dead Tuesday, March 26, 2002, near his home west of Valley Falls.

Mr. Gilleece was a laborer for the Jefferson County Road and Bridge Department.

He was born Jan. 13, 1956, in Wamego, and was adopted by Veryle and Martha Gilleece, of Valley Falls, in 1967. He graduated from Valley Falls High School and from Kaw Area Vocational Technical School in 1974.

Mr. Gilleece was a member of Valley Falls United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his parents, Veryle and Martha Gilleece, Valley Falls; two brothers, Delbert Gilleece, Valley Falls, and Greg Gilleece, Turon; and a sister, Kris Carothers, Scranton.

Cremation is planned. Inurnment will be in Valley Falls Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Valley Falls United Methodist Church and sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls.

Barbara Guy

LAWRENCE --- Barbara Jane Guy, 71, Lawrence, died Tuesday, March 26, 2002, at a Lawrence hospital. She had lung cancer.

She was born June 24, 1930, in New York City, the daughter of Harold and Muriel Yates. She graduated from East Denver High School in 1948 and in 1952 from the University of Denver, where she earned the Phi Beta Kappa award. She taught elementary school in Denver for three years. She had lived in San Diego; Casper, Wyo.; Newark, Ohio; Wichita; and Denver before she moved to Lawrence in 1991.

Mrs. Guy was a member of the Over the Hill Doll Club in Lawrence and an avid collector of Madame Alexander Dolls.

Survivors include her husband of 47 years, Willard J. "Bill" Guy, at home; two daughters, Pamela Romanko, Redmond, Ore., and Cynthia Vierkant, Casper, Wyo.; a son, David Guy, Sacramento, Calif.; and seven grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Canine Companion for Independence, 4989 State Route 37 East, Delaware, Ohio, 43015; or to the Assistance Dogs of America Inc., 109 Lighthouse Drive, Jupiter, Fla., 33469; or to a local Humane Society.

Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence is in charge of arrangements.

Elizabeth Maines

MAYETTA --- Elizabeth Beatrice Maines, 80, Mayetta, died Friday, March 29, 2002, at her home.

Among survivors is her husband, Frank Maines, Mayetta; two sons, Richard Maines, Topeka, and LeRoy Maines, Mayetta; and two daughters, Shirley Harker, Gallup, N.M., and Delores Maines, Mayetta.

Services will be announced by Mercer Funeral Home in Holton.

Norma Oswalt

ATCHISON --- Norma M. "Blondie" Oswalt, 87, Rushville, Mo., died Wednesday, March 27, 2002, at an Atchison hospital.

Mrs. Oswalt had operated a service station in Atchison for a short time, and she worked for the former F.W. Woolworth's Department Store in Atchison. She also owned and operated the former Midwest Cafe and boarding house at 1301 Maine St. in Atchison for more than 40 years.