Obituaries

Shirley Joan (Knecht) Meisel

Shirley Joan (Knecht) Meisel passed away peacefully on September 26, 2022. She was reunited with her best friend and husband, Karl, to enjoy big hugs and laughter again. She was born December 2, 1935, in Binghamton, N.Y. to Robert and Dorothy Knecht and grew up in Bridgeport/Stratford, Conn. Shirley was the oldest of four children and is survived by brother, Arthur, and sisters, Sandra and Charlene. After high school, Shirley initially worked as a legal secretary until she married Karl in 1955 and set off on their adventures travelling the world wherever the Army or the church sent them. She was proud to admit they lived in 28 homes during their lifelong marriage. Shirley was a devoted wife and mother of three: Julie (deceased), Karl III and Mark. She was an accomplished pianist and frequently served as the accompanist for the church choir and enjoyed singing in the choir during Karl’s 3rd career as a minister. She spent a short time as the Executive Director of a not-for-profit organization in Leavenworth providing food and after school programs for disadvantaged kids. She enjoyed quilting, cooking, beating Karl at Boggle, volunteering for many, diverse activities, playing bridge with friends and enjoying family game night; frequently just watching the fierce competition, occasionally joining the fray and winning. Their military and church friends and family span the country and are fondly remembered.

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Jo Lynn Jewell

Jo Lynn Jewell, 68, Garnett, Kan., passed away Monday October 17, 2022, at the Olathe Hospice House, Olathe, Kan. Funeral services for Jo will be 2 p.m.

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Robert Shawn Ballou

Robert Shawn Ballou passed away on September 23, 2022, in Leavenworth. He was born Shawn Douglas Boatright in Kansas City, Kan., on January 5, 1977, and adopted into the family of Bob and Sue Ballou of Leavenworth in 1983. He has lived in Leavenworth his whole adult life. He is survived by his daughter, Breanna Ballou of Hanceville, Ala.; his father, Robert C. Ballou of Leavenworth; his sister, Denise Sisco and her husband, Jack Sisco, both of Leavenworth; his niece, Alyshia Hansard, her daughter, Aaliyah Cook, and her husband, Cory Hansard of Derby, Kan.; his nephew, Jeremy Sisco of Leavenworth; his nephew, Codi Sisco, active-duty Navy; cousins in Missouri; and friends in Leavenworth. No service is planned. His ashes have been laid to rest at Mt. Muncie Cemetery in Lansing.

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LeRoy William Seifert Jr.

LeRoy William Seifert Jr., 81, of Leavenworth passed away to his heavenly reward Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at the University of Kansas Hospital after a fall and subsequent illness. He was born September 28, 1941, to Le-Roy Seifert and Marguerite (Hanley) Seifert in Leavenworth.

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Rex Lee Friend

Rex Lee Friend, age 65 years, 2 months and 6 days of rural La Cygne, Kan. passed away at Olathe Medical Center on Monday, October 17, 2022. Rex was born the son of Troy Leonard and Betty Pearl (Reed) Friend on August 11, 1957, at Colorado Springs, Colo. Rex was a very patriotic man, serving his country for six years in the United Stated Army and also in the United States Marine Corps reserves. He was an avid Chiefs fan and very mechanically inclined, he would rebuild lawn mowers and was also known to take an older truck or car and fix it and take off driving it across the country with his brother, Roy. He loved the music of Willie Nelson and was also an avid outdoorsman and fisherman, going off grid as much as possible. Over the years he was a landscaper and tree trimmer. He was also known to help out his veteran buddies with work, to allow them to make some extra money. Rex was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Carl Roy Friend and one sister, Linda Mae Smith. He is survived by his loving sister, Samantha Wood, numerous nieces, nephews and friends. The family would like to offer a special thanks to all of Rex’s caregivers that have helped him over the years. Funeral Service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, October 22, 2022, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, La Cygne Chapel. Visitation will take place from 1 p.m. until service time at the chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Spinal Cord Injury @ US Veterans Hospital, Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, Mo. and may be sent in care of the funeral home to P.O. Box 304, La Cygne, KS 664040. Online condolences may be left at www. schneiderfunerals.com.

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