Obituaries
Joseph Edward Halastik
Feb 24, 2026
Joseph E. Halastik, 71, of Sugar Creek, Missouri, passed away on February 24, 2026, after a long illness, born in Sugar Creek in 1954. He owned and operated Halastik Trucking before retiring in his 40s. After retirement, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by purchasing a farm in Ridgeway, Missouri, where he became a cattle rancher.
Joe later returned to Sugar Creek,...
Kenneth "Kenny" A. Heermann
Feb 23, 2026
Kenneth Allen Heermann, of Independence, Missouri, passed away peacefully on February 23rd, 2026. He was born on October 6th, 1948 to Wilfred and Betty (Wehking) Heermann in Higginsville, Missouri. He was a Vietnam veteran and a member of the U.S. Navy as a yeoman on the USS Vernon County (LST-1161.) Following his service in the U.S. Navy, he began his...
Mary Ellen Swift
Feb 22, 2026
Mary Ellen Swift passed away on February 22, 2026, in Independence, Missouri at the young age of 45. Born on July 22, 1980, in Kansas City, Missouri, Mary grew up Lathrop, where she graduated from Lathrop High School.
Her journey took her from the Midwest to the Virgin Islands, where on a whim, she embarked on a new adventure with friends,...
Rita Ann Lindsey
Feb 19, 2026
Rita Ann (Thurman) Lindsey, age 94, passed away peacefully on February 19, 2026. Born on January 17, 1932, in Independence, Missouri, she was the youngest of nine children to Earl and Martha Thurman. Raised on a farm near the Independence town square, Rita's early years were filled with the values of hard work and family that would define her life.A...
James H. Harter
Feb 19, 2026
James (Jim) Hubert Harter, born on November 21, 1942, in Independence, Missouri, passed away peacefully on February 19, 2026, leaving behind a legacy rooted in hard work, humor, love, and the simple joys of a life well lived.
Jim grew up on the family farm, a backdrop that shaped his character for the rest of his life. The values he learned...
Olive Thomasina Campbell
Feb 18, 2026
Olive Thomasina (“Tommye”) Ring Campbell, 94, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, editor, romance novelist, and community activist, died February 18, 2026, at the Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri.
Mrs. Campbell was born June 2, 1931, in Winston-Salem, NC, to the late Thomas Hilary and Olive Johnson Ring. Sisters Elizabeth (Betty) Morris, Ida Vaughn Ring, and Nancy Pierson predeceased her.
After graduating with...
Roger William Sullivan
Feb 18, 2026
Roger William Sullivan was born in Buffalo New York, on June 1, 1933, to parents William and Jean Sullivan. Roger had three younger siblings, Jim, Betty Jean, and Joni. Roger was a veteran in the US Army and served during the Korean War. On June 30, 1956, he married Barbara Anne Bopst. Roger and Barbara had two daughters, Tammy Sullivan,...
Helen Lorene Akers
Feb 18, 2026
Helen Lorene (Helmick), Akers, 97, of Independence, MO, passed away February 18, 2026, in Sedalia, MO.
An only child, Helen was born May 31, 1928, in Turney, MO. Over the course of her life she came to be the dedicated homemaker whose devotion and attention to family and friends made her loved and cherished by all of those around her.
In her...
Charles Henry Harmon III
Feb 18, 2026
Charles H. Harmon III suffered a heart attack and passed away on February 18, 2026, at the age of 63. His passing leaves a profound void in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.
Born on October 30, 1962, Charlie lived a life marked by generosity, loyalty, and a deep devotion to his friends and family. He was the...
Yong Ae Herndon
Feb 18, 2026
Yong Ae Herndon, age 86, passed away on February 18th, 2026 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, surrounded by friends and loved ones.
Yong Ae was born in Seoul, South Korea on October 10th, 1939, and made the decision to immigrate to the United States in the late 1960s. Though the life of an immigrant wasn’t easy, she faced the challenges ahead of...
Romana Maria Warner
Feb 17, 2026
Romana Maria Warner, age 88 years, of Independence, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. A visitation will be held on Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM with a funeral service to follow at 10:00 AM at Speaks Suburban Chapel, located at 18020 E 39th St S, Independence, Missouri, 64055. A graveside service will...
Jeffrey Bruce "Jeff" Burns
Feb 17, 2026
Jeffrey Bruce Burns passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on February 17, 2026 at Saint Luke’s Hospice House, after a lengthy battle with congestive heart failure. He was born on May 6, 1958 to Daniel Bernard and Joan Elizabeth (Elkins) Burns in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from Raymore-Peculiar High School in 1977. He went to work for Kansas...
Deborah "Deb" Ann Klumpp
Feb 16, 2026
Deborah Ann Klumpp, lovingly known as "Deb," passed away on February 16, 2026, in Lee's Summit, Missouri, at the age of 69. Born on September 9, 1956, in Storm Lake, Iowa, Deb was a bright light whose selfless nature and kind spirit touched the lives of everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.
Her adventurous soul was evident in the...
Jerry Edward Edmondson
Feb 15, 2026
Jerry Edward Edmondson, 87, of Raytown, Missouri, died peacefully on February 15, 2026.
He was born August 6, 1938 in Kansas City, Missouri, to Helen Louise Truce (Conley) Edmondson and Wallace E. Edmondson. He was fortunate to have a younger sister, Judy, join the family soon after his arrival.
Jerry had many happy childhood memories filled with unsupervised adventures with neighborhood friends,...
Elaine Ruth Schroeder
Feb 14, 2026
Elaine Ruth Schroeder, 84 of Independence, MO passed away Saturday, February 14, 2026 at Good Shepherd Community Hospice House in Concordia, MO. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at the Messiah Lutheran Church, 613 S. Main St., Independence, MO 64050 with burial to follow in Woodlawn Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 10:00...
Gerald Ray "Jerry" Beachner
Feb 14, 2026
Gerald Ray Beachner, Jerry to most, passed away peacefully on February 14th, 2026. Jerry was born on June 26, 1955, in Independence, Missouri to Sherman and Dora (Burnham) Beachner.
Jerry was a loving husband and father, who owned his own antique business and worked in various retail industries before a career ending injury placed him on disability.
He loved the outdoors and...
Ronald David "Ron" Brim, Sr.
Feb 12, 2026
Ronald David "Ron" Brim, Sr., age 75 years, of Independence, Missouri, passed away peacefully and surrounded by loved ones on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Born on January 6, 1951, in Kansas City, Missouri, to John Thomas Brim and Bessie Emaline (Green) Brim, Ron was known for his love for his family especially his grandkids, his knowledge about everything and anything...
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