Bryan Dean Rabe, 52, El Dorado Springs, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, at his home. Bryan was born July 25, 1957, to W.D. (Bill) and Patricia (Coit) Rabe in Versailles.

He was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church in Versailles.

Bryan moved with his parents to El Dorado Springs in 1961 and attended school and graduated from El Dorado Springs High School in 1975. He attended Missouri Southern State University in Joplin where he graduated with a Business Degree in Accounting. Following graduation, he returned to El Dorado Springs to manage the family furniture business.

As an active member of St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Stockton, Bryan was serving as a church elder. Bryan enjoyed his membership and friends in the El Dorado Springs Optimist Club and served as past treasurer. He always looked forward to the various community events and could be counted on to provide his services whenever needed.

Bryan is survived by his parents, Bill and Pat; two sisters, Kathy Leimkuehler, and husband, Alan - Nevada, and Kristin Atkinson, and husband, Brian - Parkville; one nephew, Gregory Leimkuehler - Warrensburg; three nieces - Rachel Cargill - Nevada, Alicia Leimkuehler - Blue Springs, and Lauren Atkinson - Parkville; two great-nieces; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Services began at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, at Bland-Hackleman Chapel with Deacon Ronnie Backs officiating. Music was provided by Suzanne Gladden and Peter Chei. Interment followed in El Dorado Springs City Cemetery under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were - Greg Leimkuehler, Bob Floyd, Mike Frier, Don Anderson, James Brackenridge and John A. Koger. Honorary pallbearers were - Vern Nelson, Bill Frost, Bob Steward and Max Hendricks.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Andrews Lutheran Church building fund in care of the funeral home.

Della Jeanette Ellis Tucker, 94, passed away at Community Springs Healthcare Facility in El Dorado Springs, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2010. She was born Sep. 20, 1915, to George and Alice Miller in Mobile, AL.

She lived in Mobile County, AL, until 1932 and then moved to Kansas City where she obtained employment.

Della met James Robert (Bob) Ellis in 1938 and they married July 1, 1939, in Independence. To this union, a daughter, Doris Jeanette, was born.

In 1942 the family joined the Oak Park Christian Church and were active members. In 1956 they transferred their membership to Memorial Christian Church.

Their daughter, Jeanette, married Laurence Weinbrenner in 1961 and to this union two sons were born, Craig and John. Bob and Della were equally proud of their grandsons. There are fond memories of spending time with Grandpa and Grandma Ellis during the summer months, swinging in the backyard, drinking coke floats and fishing. Bob and Della’s dream of both grandsons attending and graduating from college was fulfilled.

When Bob and Della retired in 1971, they moved from Kansas City to El Dorado Springs. They then joined the First Baptist Church in El Dorado Springs. They enjoyed the fellowship of many friends in El Dorado Springs and always enjoyed fishing in the local area. They also enjoyed taking trips to Texas to visit their daughter and son-in-law and grandsons.

Bob passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 30, 1984, following a brief illness.

Della then met Clarence Tucker and married him on Oct. 17, 1989. They remained in El Dorado Springs. Both remained independent until September 2008, when they were admitted to Community Springs Healthcare and were able to share the same room together.

Besides her parents and first husband, Bob, Della had three brothers - Howard, Walter and Steve who also preceded her in death.

Della leaves behind her husband, Clarence; her daughter, Jeanette; her son-in-law, Larry; and her pride and joy, her two grandsons, Craig, and wife, Belinda, and John; and several nieces and nephews.

Della was a committed Christian who loved her Lord. She enjoyed reading her Bible daily. In her last days, she spoke of the Lord and wanting to join Him.

Services were held on Monday, Feb. 1, at Bland-Hackleman Chapel with Rev. John Holt officiating. Music was provided by Lorraine Miller. Interment followed in Floral Hills Cemetery in Kansas City. Arrangements were entrusted to Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

Honorary pallbearers were - Richard Weinbrenner, Craig Weinbrenner, John Weinbrenner, Mark Boch, Jim Ellis, Caroll Dodds and Lynn Morgan.

Ralph Wayne Brake, 90, El Dorado Springs, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010. Ralph was born in Dallas County on Sept. 19, 1919. He grew up on a small farm with parents, Lloyd and Alma Brake. He had one sister, Vivian. By all accounts they were quite the team—with her role being to keep him out of trouble.

Ralph’s talents and interests were exhibited at an early age. His mother used to tell of his hammering nails in the dirt and pulling them out and then doing it again when he was just a tiny tot. He had many stories of all the fish and wildlife critters he would bring home for her to cook. He claims to have built his first chicken house at age nine or 10 and a quarried stone house when he was 13. That house is still being lived in.

With so many interests and jobs, school was low on the priority list. That didn’t mean he didn’t learn his arithmetic and he could still figure square feet and costs off a building project in his head until the end. He was also quite the inventor and had tool designs that should have been patented. He was very creative with his cabinet and furniture designs also.

He married Doris Branstine in April of 1940. It was a partnership that lasted 63 years until her death in 2003. They settled in Dallas County near their families. They soon had three little Brakes—Janet, Terry and Linda.

During World War II, he was sent to welding school and then spent two years building troop ships in Evansville, IN. After the war and back in Dallas County, he worked as a welder on tank trucks until he got enough building jobs to feed those growing little Brake kids. There are literally 100’s of houses, barns, schools and etc., that he built in Dallas and Greene counties in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

In later years, he ventured farther from home and ended up in El Dorado Springs at the end of his contracting career. Ralph and Doris built a retirement home here in El Dorado Springs close to the lakes with all the hunting and fishing locations. His next career was as a craftsman of fine furniture and cabinets. He has grandfather clocks he built that are in homes from coast to coast.

Life was perfect for a few years and then the storms of life came with Doris’s many illnesses. She spent 11 years in the nursing home with Ralph visiting her faithfully every morning. Tragedy struck again when son, Terry, had an accident and didn’t recover from his injuries in 1999. Then daughter, Linda had cancer to which she succumbed to in 2001.

Life was rough but he kept going with his loving ways and sense of humor. He even learned new skills like cooking when he could no longer do woodworking.

He always wanted people to remember him for his love of life and joking manner. His surviving family will certainly do so. Those survivors are: daughter, Janet Overman - Kentucky; son-in-law, Ronny Morris - Kansas; five grandchildren - Shari Bedker - Virginia, Stacy Lester - Kentucky, Adam Morris - Arkansas, Aaron Morris - Texas and Timothy Brake - Missouri; their spouses and seven great-grandchildren; two nephews and two nieces.

The grandchildren served as pallbearers as a final job to do for their grandpa, Ralphie. They have a million stories to remember him by and hope the rest of you do, too.

Services were held on Monday, Jan. 25, at Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home. Rev. Brent Bland officiated and Rusty Carver provided music. Graveside services and interment followed in Mt. Olive Cemetery, near Fair Grove.

Arrangements were under the direction of both Montgomery-Viets Funeral Home and Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

Guido “Guy” Dozler, 75, El Dorado Springs, passed away at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010. Guido was born in Sioux City, IA, on April 19, 1934, the son of Adolf and Edna Rickman Dozler.

Guy served in the United States Navy for four years from 1956-1960. He went to college and earned his degree and worked as a laboratory technician in various hospitals for many years. He retired to El Dorado Springs.

Guido loved to read and worked as a handyman while living in El Dorado Springs.

He cherished his many pets.

Survivors include his brother, Cletus Dozler - El Dorado Springs; sister, Kathleen Addison, and husband, Larry, of Monroe City; several nieces and nephews; and many friends and acquaintances.

Guido was cremated according to his wishes. Arrangements were under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

Galen S. O’Keefe (Bud, as he was known to all that loved him), 73, passed away Saturday, Jan. 20, 2010, at his home in Shawnee, KS. Bud was born June 26, 1936, in Blaine, KS, to Urban and Cecelia O’Keefe.

Upon graduation from the Wheaton, KS, High School, he joined the Navy in 1955, serving until 1960.

In 1961, he married Janice Sanderson. Janice is the daughter of the late Roy and Evelyn Watkins and a 1961 graduate of El Dorado Springs High School. He and Janice eventually made their home in Kansas City.

Bud joined the Army National Guard in 1975, then transferred to the Air Force Reserves where he retired in 1996, serving his country a total of 26 years.

In 1993, he retired from Wal-Ties and Forms in Bonner Springs, KS, spending the next 10 years traveling the United States with his wife in their motor home.

He is survived by his wife, Janice; his daughters – Karen O’Keefe-Lingenfelter, and husband, Garrett, Kathi O’Keefe, and Kerry O’Keefe Owens, and husband, Dean; three grandchildren; two brothers; four sisters; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass was held Monday, Jan. 25, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawnee, KS.

Burial was in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Wheaton, KS.

The family suggests donations to the Catholic Community Hospice or the Deanna Rose Farmstead in Overland Park, KS, or to an other charity of choice.

Ronald Darrel Swearengin, 61, Stockton, died at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010. Ron was born in Gainsville, MO, on Jan. 17, 1949, the youngest son of Roy and Alaska (Herd) Swearengin.

He lived his first three years near Theodosia until Bull Shoals Lake took the family farm. From there they moved to the family farm near Collins where he lived until he graduated from Collins High School in 1968. Then he attended Vo-Tech School in Springfield for one year.

He married Clara Mae Keller on Sept. 6, 1969, and just celebrated their 40th anniversary. They moved to Belton for six years then on to Overland Park, KS, where they made their home and raised a family.

He moved back to Stockton in the late 90s to help his dad farm. He had already purchased land near Stockton where he built a shop to work in and a new home close to family.

He worked on cars most of his life, starting out by helping his older brothers on their cars as a gofer and farm machinery for his dad and others after moving to Stockton. He was happiest when farming with his dad on the family farm and continued to do so until his death.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Alaska Swearengin; one brother, Tessley (Red) Swearengin; and one nephew, Steven Willbanks.

He is survived by his wife, Clara, of the home; two sons, Ronald R. Swearengin, and wife, Danielle – Springfield, and Joseph Swearengin, and friend, Katie White - Stockton; four grandsons - Remington, Ethan, Austin and Logan Swearengin – Springfield, and Katie’s boys, Dustin and Joshua White - Stockton; one brother, Leslie Swearengin, and wife, Linda - Overland Park; two sisters, Wanda Cassell - Stockton and Thelma Underwood, and husband, Tony - El Dorado Springs; and many more aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends.

Services were Saturday, Jan. 23, in Brumback Funeral Home with burial in Freeman-Holsapple Cemetery.

Edward Earl Gettys Sr., 62, El Dorado Springs, was born Dec. 8, 1947, in Nevada to Edward Boyd Gettys and Helen (Johnson) Gettys. He passed away Monday, Jan. 18, 2010, at Community Springs Healthcare Facility after a long battle with cancer.

Although Ed’s early childhood was spent in El Dorado Springs, he grew up traveling the country with his family. He lived in some extraordinary places but always called El Dorado Springs home.

At the age of 17, Edward joined the U.S. Navy where he served for 22 years, receiving numerous medals and commendations.
Ed served all over the world, including several tours in Vietnam. He began his career as a Machinist Mate but later joined the
Explosive Ordinance Disposal team, Group Two. He achieved the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer, with badges as Master EOD
Technician and Master Diver. At the end of his Navy career, Edward had the great honor of being senior instructor at EOD Training School in Indian Head, MD. Ed retired from the Navy in March 1987 and returned to his hometown of El Dorado Springs.

After retiring from the Navy, Ed could not remain idle. He took a position with Physicians Medical Homecare and remained with the company until he retired in 2007. Edward began this career delivering medical equipment but ended as the Vice President of Operations. He took great care and pride in serving the needs of others.

It was while working at Physicians Medical that Edward met his current wife, Debbie. They were united in marriage on Dec. 12, 1992, in El Dorado Springs.

Preceding Edward in death were his mother, Helen, and father, Boyd, as well as his grandparents.

Survivors include: his wife, Debbie - El Dorado Springs; two sisters, Carol Gerster – Texas, and Amy Stones, and husband, Vern - Colorado; three sons - Michael and David – both of Florida, and Edward Gettys Jr., and partner, Marla Uptegrove - El Dorado Springs; two daughters, Karen Gettys - Joplin, and Beth Gettys - El Dorado Springs; four granddaughters; and one grandson, his namesake, Edward E. Gettys III.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 22, at the El Dorado Springs City Cemetery with Rev. Brent Bland officiating. Arrangements were entrusted to Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Crosslines or Second Chance Barnyard

Chris Fowler, 95, Springfield, passed away Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010, in the Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon. She was born Dec. 23, 1914, in New Haven, CT, to Henry Rapson and Alpha (Clark) Rapson.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church in El Dorado Springs.

Chris graduated from the Meriden Hospital School of Nursing in Meriden, CT, on Aug. 31, 1940. On July 22, 1941, Chris joined the Army Nurses Corps and served during WWII until being discharged April 28, 1945. Chris was united in marriage to Paul B. Fowler on Aug. 5, 1944. After her service to her country, she worked as a Registered Nurse in Obstetrics at Asbury Hospital in Salina, KS.

Paul and Chris moved from Salina, KS, to El Dorado Springs, in 1963. She was active in the community of El Dorado Springs
from 1963-1997. She was a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans, a member of the Royal Neighbors and the
Business and Professional Women’s Club. Her many volunteer activities included the United Methodist Church, volunteer work at Cedar County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Girl Scouts, the Senior Center, camp nurse at Camp Galilee, Community Betterment, Council of Aging, Christian Care Center and Progress Club. She was nominated and selected as the Person of the Year in 1983 for all of her volunteer activities.

In 1997, she moved to the Gardens Assisted Living in Springfield.

Chris was a loving and giving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be missed by family and friends.

Her parents, Henry and Alpha Rapson, several brothers and sisters and her husband, Paul B. Fowler, preceded her in death.

Survivors include her two sons, Richard Fowler, and wife, Candace – Springfield, and Gregg Fowler, and wife, Anita - Springfield; one daughter, Kandi Lewis - Kingsland, GA; 10 grandchildren - Mara Dockery, and husband, Mike - Springfield, Mandy Claiborne, and husband, Ron - Edmond, OK, Hayley Geren, and husband, Troy - Owasso, OK, Nikolas Lewis, and wife, Shayla - Kingsland, GA, Nikole, Tamikka, Kaneisha and Krysta Lewis - Kingsland, GA, Shannon Annin - Springfield, and Larry Annin, and wife, Tracy - Hayesville, KS; nine great-grandchildren - Hannah Fowler - Owasso, OK, Zachary and Nicholas Claiborne - Edmond, OK, Karma, Kayla, Kendyll Lewis - Kingsland, GA, and Larry IV, Jennifer and Justine Annin - Hayesville, KS.

Services began at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, at Bland-Hackleman Chapel in El Dorado Springs. Visitation was held from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home prior to the funeral service. Rev. Brent Bland officiated and Lorraine Miller provided the music.

Burial followed in El Dorado Springs City Cemetery under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were - Ron Claiborne, Shannon Annin, Mike Dockery, Danny Barnette, Delayne Hashagen and Travis Baldwin.

Memorial contributions may be made to the El Dorado Springs Senior Center or to the Cedar County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

Todd Wesley Maslen, 40, Springdale, AR, passed away Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010, in Houston, TX, after a trucking accident. Todd was born on May 28, 1969, in Aurora, the son of Johnny and Carolyn Maslen.

He grew up in El Dorado Springs and graduated from El Dorado Springs High School in 1987.

In January 1986, Todd and his sister, Shannon, were baptized at the Park Street Christian Church.

He later moved to Springdale, AR, to pursue his longtime dream of being a truck driver, following in his father’s footsteps. He was currently employed by Crete Trucking.

In 1993 Todd married Darlene Henderson and to that union was born three children: Kayla - 16, Michael - 14, and Ryan - 12.

Todd was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Charles and Opal Maslen, of El Dorado Springs.

Survivors include his parents, Johnny and Nahwana Maslen - El Dorado Springs, Clyde and Carolyn Beaver - Joplin; daughter, Kayla; sons, Michael and Ryan – Midwest City, OK; maternal grandmother, Erma Craker – Springdale, AR; sister, Shannon, and Ron Carter - St. Robert; step-brother Randy Beaver - Joplin; step-sisters, Hali Beaver - Independence, KS, and Rachel Lusk - El Dorado Springs; one nephew and three nieces of St. Robert; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Services will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, in Sheldon Chapel, El Dorado Springs, with Pastor Bill Platt officiating. Music will be In Color, If Today Was Your Last Day and Live Like You Were Dying.

Interment will be in the El Dorado Springs City Cemetery under the direction of Sheldon Funeral Home, El Dorado Springs.

Casketbearers will be - Ron Whitaker, Wesley Timmons, Travis Stark, Duane Horning, Rick Jackson, Charlie Harper, Dustin McGuirk and Shawn Hendrickson.

Richard H. Smith (Dick Roby), 82, Seattle, WA, was born in El Dorado Springs Sept. 11, 1927, to Lester and Blanche Roby. He passed away Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010.

Dick served in the Army at Fort Lewis, WA, from 1946 to 1947 before moving to Sunnyside, WA, where he married the love of his life, Vonnie (Jackman) Smith in 1958. They moved to Seattle where Dick worked at Westlake Chevrolet and Seattle Metro Bus
Systems until he retired in 1989.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Vonnie, and his parents.

He is survived by sons, Steven Smith and Ricky Smith (Kathleen); and five grandchildren – Stephanie, Meagan, Nick Eric and Danny; two sisters, Lois Smith (Wally) and Becky Bush – El Dorado Springs.

The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation and gratitude to the Paulson family for their many years of loving support.

A military graveside services will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday Jan. 23, in Evergreen Washelli followed by a celebration of life.