Obituaries

Anna Mae Epp was born in Mountain Lake, MN, on Feb 1, 1930, to Jacob and Maria Regier. She married Glen Dale Epp from Henderson, NE, on June 16, 1950.

Lambert “Chopper” Meier, 71, passed away Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Wichita, KS. He was born May 6, 1950, in Lincoln County, KS. Chopper proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was preceded in death by his parents Lorenz & Anna Meier, sister Hulda Wilkie, brother Eldon George (Sharon) Meier, sister Loretta (Norman) Rider, brother-in-law Tom Kilcoyne, and niece Karen Peak. He is survived by his sisters, Nancy Kilcoyne of Lincoln and Doris Hughey of Salina and many nephews and nieces, as well as his many friends at the VFW in Lincoln.

Doctor Glenn Jefferson Tucker entered this world on November 8th, 1947 in Chickasha, Oklahoma to be cherished by his Father, Herbert Dow Tucker and his Mother, Celeta Lucille Tucker. It is with great sadness that we announce that he left this life from his comfortable home in Denver, Colorado at the age of seventy-four, on February 8th, 2022. He is survived by his brother, Terry, his sister Deanna, and many nieces and nephews. He and his wife, Janice (Rahmeier) Tucker, who passed January 13, 2018 had no children but their nieces and nephews were thought of as their own. Most of Glenn’s early life was spent in Ogallah, Kansas, where he attended the Ogallah Christian Church, Ogallah Grade School, and continued on to Trego Community High School in nearby Wakeeney, where he graduated. His education continued at Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas, but was interrupted when drafted by the United States Army. He served his country for two years in the military, including a year in Vietnam during that conflict. Not to be deterred, he resumed his educational pursuit at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, where he subsequently earned his Doctorate in Environmental Science. He retired from a long career with the Agency for Tox ic Substances and Disease Registry, a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Throughout his professional life and into retirement Glenn was an avid diver and SCUBA instructor, photographer, and philanthropist. He had a passion for learning and his home was filled with books. He and his wife Jan were also enthusiastic travelers having explored all 7 continents.

Larry Ray Meitler, 74, passed away Sunday, February 20, 2022 in Sylvan Grove, Kansas. He was born April 29, 1947 in Gooding, Idaho to Raymond and Sadie Meitler, the third of ten children.

Charlene Joyce (Ryan) Jeffers died on February 17, 2022 in Casa Grande, Arizona after several years of battling with Lewy body dementia.

Corrina May Hillegeist, 52, of Mexico, Missouri, passed away peacefully at her home, with her husband by her side on Saturday, February 19, 2022. She was born May 7, 1969, in Rockland, Maine, a daughter of Joel G. and Gloria H. (Crocker) Wentworth. On April 18, 1997, Corrina was united in marriage in Fort Stockton, Texas, to Brian Hillegeist, who survives of the home.

Norman Howard Bird, a loving dad, brother, and uncle died Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Born to Howard and Ruby Bird, in Lincoln Kansas on December 22, 1933. Norman attended Barnard High School and was a member of the ROTC. Shortly after graduating high school Norman was called up by the US Navy and served in Panama. He spent a few years teaching school in Kansas City and lived for ahile in Oregon.

Michael James Winckler, 37 of Independence, MO passed away Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Cremation is planned with a memorial service to be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 26, 2022 at the Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th St., Independence, MO 64055. Donations may be made in his name to the Independence Animal Shelter, 21001 MO-78, Independence, MO 64057 or to Happy Bottoms, 303 W 79th St, Kansas City, MO 64114. Michael was born February 16, 1984 in Salina, KS to Mark and Tamara (Smith) Winckler. He graduated from Mankato, High School in Mankato, KS and later received a bachelor’s in engineering from Kansas State University. He had worked for the City of Independence since 2013, as the City Engineer since 2020. Michael was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Mid-American Regional Council, American Public Works Association, and Toastmasters International, Tru Talkers section. When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed homebrewing with his best college buddies, always telling them what needed to be done, while wearing his favorite pair of overalls. They also enjoyed attending concerts together, many times traveling to St. Louis, Omaha, or Des Moines for a weekend road trip. KISS, Def Leppard, Motley Crue, ZZ Top, and Hall and Oats were some of his favorites. Family was the most important thing to Michael, one activity he enjoyed most was cheering on Miles and his friends while on the soccer field. Never missing a game, he would keep notes to help remember the names of all the kiddos and keep score for the rest of us on the sidelines. It was important to him to learn everyone’s name so he could cheer them all on. He was the most supportive and loving dad to Miles and husband to Shannon. Michael was loyal to his friends and coworkers, with a heart of a teacher, and would do anything for anyone. He was always generous with his time and resources, giving and helping whenever needed. Michael was married to Shannon Hillis on October 8, 2011, she survives him of the home; He is also survived by; a son, Miles Winckler of the home; 2 sisters, Kaydee Sheets Jonesboro, AR and Jessica Winters and husband Alex of Ellsworth, KS; his parents, Tamara and Jeff DeBey of Garnett, KS and Mark and Liz Winckler of Lincoln, KS; his grandparents, Phyllis Winckler of Wilson, KS and Kay and Thayer Smith of Ellsworth, KS and a niece Addie Winters. He is proceeded in death by his grandpa Paul Winckler and niece Clio Sheets.