Marguerite Stremel

(From Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary)

Marguerite Elva Stremel (Sharp), 97, of Joplin, Missouri, peacefully departed this life on May 28, 2017 at her residence with her beloved children by her side.

Marguerite entered this life on January 27, 1920 in Amy, Kansas and was the second eldest child in a family of four born to the late John and Alice (Walker) Sharp. Her formative years were spent in Lane County Kansas. After high school she went to Denver, Colorado for business school and then returned home to Dighton, Kansas to work in the First National Bank. She met the love of her life, Leonard, while he was on leave during WWII from the United States Army Air Corps and on May 1, 1946 in Windhorst, Kansas they were united in marriage. To this union three daughters and two sons were born. Marguerite worked side by side with her husband. Together they farmed in western Kansas, eastern Colorado and southwest Missouri for over 65 years. They moved their family to Granby, Missouri in 1950 and later to Joplin in 1965. They were members of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Joplin, Missouri and were active supporters in their childrens' education at McAuley High School also in Joplin.

In 1967 Marguerite started a career with the Post Office, first as a clerk in Duenweg, followed by several years at the Joplin and Granby post offices and then retiring as Postmaster from the Saginaw branch in 1991. She enjoyed this job very much. She was a people person who rarely met a stranger. She retired to spend more time with Leonard and her children. They enjoyed traveling to visit their children, going as far as Europe. They were always included, actively involved and participated in their lives.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; parents; two brothers, Theodore and William; and one sister, Bertha Louise.

Marguerite is survived by her five children; three daughters, Terry Stremel of Leawood, Kansas, Brenda Stremel and husband, Tom Jalonack, of Leawood, Kansas, and Katrina Goddard and husband, Ian, of Oxford, England; two sons, Philip Stremel and wife, Elaine, of Joplin, Missouri and Gregory Stremel and wife, Kristen, of Joplin, Missouri; six grandchildren, Nicholas Stremel, Sonya Marguerite Stremel, Daniel Goddard, Ben Goddard, Lindsey Trenary and Alex Stremel; one great granddaughter, Elisa Marguerite Stremel; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other family and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial for Marguerite Stremel is at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 1 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Joplin, Missouri with Reverend J. Friedel officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Webb City, Missouri. Those honoring her life by serving as pallbearers are Philip Stremel, Gregory Stremel, Tom Jalonack, Nicholas Stremel, Daniel Goddard and Ben Goddard. The family recognizes and thanks the Visiting Angel staff for their exceptional care given to Marguerite especially; Shannon, Kristi, Lana and the Mercy Hospice staff.

The Rosary and Visitation will be at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 31 at the Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through our website www.thornhilldillon.com.

Family requests offerings are made to McAuley Regional High School. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri.

Ronnie Jenkins

(From Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary)

Mr. Ronnie Wade Jenkins, 50, of Joplin, Missouri, departed this life on Sunday, May 28, 2017, at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin, Missouri.

Ronnie entered this life on July 20, 1966, in Kansas City, Missouri, son of the late Gary and Dorothy (Montley) Jenkins. His formative years were spent in Joplin, Missouri and Fresno, California. Ronnie worked as a concrete finisher throughout his life. He enjoyed playing pool, fishing, rock collecting and working out.

He is survived by his wife, Jamie Jenkins of the home; two children, Bradly Jenkins and wife, Crystal, of Fresno, California and Jessica Thompson of the state of Oklahoma; three stepchildren, Alisha Lagrassa of Webb City, Missouri, Brian Lagrassa of Joplin and Randy Lagrassa and wife, Lawanda, also of Joplin; six grandchildren; seven step grandchildren; three brothers, Sam Jackson and wife, Margie, of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Ben Jenkins of the state of Georgia and David Jackson also of Bella Vista, Arkansas; three sisters, Debbie Jenkins, Joyce Kinard and Kathy James all of the state of California; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other family and friends.

Funeral services for Mr. Jenkins are 12:00 noon, Friday, June 2, 2017, in the Chapel of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri, with Pastor Larry Sparks officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery in Joplin, Missouri. Those honoring his life by serving as pallbearers are Bradly Jenkins, Brian Lagrassa, Benton Jenkins, Dave Jackson, Sam Jackson and Tom Bryant. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri.

Martha Anderson

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Martha Louise (Hawkins) Anderson, 79, entered into rest on May 31, 2017 at her home in Granby surrounded by her loved ones. 

 She was born November 15, 1937 in Barry County, Missouri, the daughter of Perry and Ama (Stamps) Hawkins. She had worked at Buddy L and Sunbeam Outdoor Products for over 20 years. She loved to crochet and knit which she taught herself to do at an early age by saving the thread out of old feed sacks. 

 Martha married Shirley Dean Anderson on November 14, 1980, and he survives. Additional survivors include one step daughter, Shirley Morris; three sisters, Grace Roberts (Tony) of Diamond, Brownie McNeely of Granby and Girtha Matters (Tom) of Diamond; seventeen nieces and nephews of which three were very special in her life and they are niece, Jessica Thurman and nephews, Jim Parmley and Chris Hawkins; ten grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Martha is preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Ben and Joe Hawkins; niece, Barbara McNeely; daughter, Connie Heffren; granddaughter, Ayla Vance and nephew, Paul Hawkins. 

 Services for Martha will be held Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Clark Funeral Home in Granby with Bobby Stafford officiating. Interment will follow in the Newtonia IOOF Cemetery. The family will receive friends at a time of visitation on Monday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Martha may be made to the Granby Church of Christ, c/o Clark Funeral Home, P.O. Box 26, Granby, MO 64844.

Services are under the direction of Clark Funeral Home, Granby, MO.

June Moore

(From Parker Mortuary)

Velda June Moore, age 82, Granby, Missouri, passed away on Monday May 29, 2017 at Granby House.

June was born June 3, 1934 in Joplin, daughter of the late Edgar Shilling and Winifred Yost Shilling. She graduated from Neosho High School, and managed a Casey's Store in Bernie, Missouri for a time, and was also a sales person with Hallmark Cards where she delivered cards to Hallmark Stores and Wal-Mart Stores in the Southeast Missouri and Northwest Arkansas areas. In addition to her parents, June was preceded in death by her husband, Ross Winifred Moore, and a brother, Robert Shilling.

Survivors include her children, Eddie Moore and wife Tammy of Granby, Karl Moore and wife Margie of Goodman, Missouri, Kevin Moore and wife Brenda of Rolla, Missouri, Kerry Moore and wife Donna of Cassville, Missouri, and Cheryl Moore of Goodman; nine grandsons, Kiel of Neosho, Travis of Granby, Nathan and Ryan of Rolla, Matthew of Dexter, Missouri, Eric of Goodman, Colton, Gavin and Gabriel of Cassville; two granddaughters, Chantelle of Goodman and Annie of Cassville; a sister, Dr. Linda Shilling-Scorse and husband Dan of Joplin; brother, Danny Shilling and wife Velda of Bois D' Arc, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Irene Medlin and Kitty Moore of Joplin; and several nieces and nephews.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Four State Cremation.

Private graveside services will be held at a later date in Spring Valley Cemetery, Tipton Ford, Missouri.

Susan Burke

(From Parker Mortuary)

Susan Melody Burke, age 73, passed away on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 in Joplin, Missouri where she had lived since 2012.

She was born in Buffalo, New York on October 22, 1943 to the late Burke I. Burke and Katharine Melody Burke, and grew up in East Aurora, New York.

Susan attended Saint Lawrence University transferring to Boston University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She obtained a Masters Degree in Education from Canisius College.

Survivors include three brothers, Fenton J. Burke, Stephen S. Burke and Timothy L. Burke; and ten nephews and nieces.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, June 2, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. in the Parkway Cemetery, with the Pastor David Schepper officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.

Montez Killman

(From Knell Mortuary)

Montez E. Killman, 80, Carthage, MO, passed away early Wednesday morning, May 31, 2017 at her home. Montez Estelle Klingensmith was born March 17, 1937 in Carthage, MO to the late Lloyd Edwin Klingensmith and Evelyn Mae (Graham) Klingensmith. She worked as a nurse's assistant for most of her life and she retired at St. Luke’s Nursing Center in Carthage as a housekeeper. Montez married Enlow Killman on November 25, 1992 in Miami, OK. They loved to travel around the country visiting their children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, two daughters, Debbie Bowman (husband Jim), Clovis, NM, Denise Clark (husband David), Carthage, MO, and two step daughters Susan Hackney (husband Michael), Longmont, CO, and Karen Hensley (husband Jim), Longview, TX; two sons, Danny Thompson, Colorado Springs, CO, Doug Thompson, Colorado Springs, CO, and a step son Samuel Killman (wife Jeanna), Carthage, MO; one brother, James Klingensmith (wife Debbie), Anderson, NV; 14 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and one son, Donnie Thompson.

Visitation will be held 6-7 p.m., Monday, June 5, 2017 at Knell Mortuary. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at Knell Mortuary. Rev. Ron Franklin will officiate. Interment will follow the service at Park Cemetery, Carthage. Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Knell Mortuary.

Willie German

(From Parker Mortuary)

Willie E. German, age 87, Joplin, passed away at 2:10 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at Joplin Gardens after an illness.

Willie was born July 26, 1929 in Neosho to the late Clifford German and Georgia Burkhart German and had lived in the area all of his life.

He owned and operated his own meat cutting business before working as a meat cutter at Consumers Market for over 40 years. Following retirement, he worked for Taylor's Processing for several years. Willie also worked at Loma Linda Golf and Country Club, Schifferdecker Golf Course and volunteered at Bass Master fishing tournaments. He was a life member of the Elks Lodge #501; Racine Christian Church; several bowling leagues and the Joplin Bowling Hall of Fame and square dance clubs. Willie enjoyed playing golf and spending time with his family. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Willie married Alice Wallace on January 5, 1953 in Arkansas. She survives at the home.

Additional survivors include a son, Richard Vantrease and wife, Sheila, Carl Junction; daughter-in-law, Shelia German and friend, Albert LaDucca, Joplin; a brother, James German and wife, Lola, Neosho; grandchildren, April German, Brent Vantrease, Angela Short, Sassuni Saeler, Lacey Vantrease, Christy Roy, Angela Dent; 17 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Willie was preceded in death by a son, Gary German; a granddaughter, Kristy Tate; great grandson Krestopher Watts and siblings, Joyce Morris, Ellen German and Lois Parman.

Services are planned for Monday at 2:00 p.m. at Parker Mortuary Chapel. Gerald Griffin, minister, will officiate. Interment will follow at Burkhart Cemetery, Racine. The family will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends Sunday from 6-7:00 p.m. at Parker Mortuary. Memorial contributions may be made to the Joplin Elks Club Christmas Basket Fund, in care of Parker Mortuary.

Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.