Obituaries

Jan.9, 1931 – Feb. 9, 2019

TOPEKA — Clarel N. Herring, Burlingame, died Feb. 9, 2019, at Presbyterian Manor, Topeka. She was 88.

She was born Jan. 9, 1931, at Johnson, the daughter of Glen and Elma Stoner. She and her parents moved to Sandpoint, Idaho in 1935 during the dust bowl. In November 1941, they moved to San Francisco, Calif., so her father could work in the shipyards. Following World War II they moved back to Sandpoint, Idaho, where she graduated high school. She then attended one year of college in Denver, Colo.

Aug. 13, 1922 – Feb. 5, 2019

ST. JOHN — Alice Leland Cooper died Feb. 5, 2019, at Kenwood Plaza, St. John. She was 96.

She was born Aug. 13, 1922, at Cummings, the daughter of Walter and Daisy Jarrott Leland. She was a lifelong resident of St. John, where she was a homemaker and former Stafford County Extension Agent.

She graduated from Manhattan High School and received a bachelor’s degree in home economics from Kansas State University.

She married Carleton Cooper June 4, 1950, at Manhattan. He preceded her in death in 2007.

Nov. 21, 1947 – Jan. 13, 2019

LAWRENCE — Kathleen M. Kessinger, Lawrence, formerly of Burlingame, died Jan. 13, 2019. She was 71.

She was born Nov. 21, 1947, Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Emmett M. and Margaret J. Burns Spain.

She married K. Kurt Kessinger, April 3, 1971, at Junction City. He preceded her in death on March 2, 2002.

Feb. 7, 1932 – Dec. 24, 2018

BOSTON, Mass. — Jackie Vigola, formerly of Osage City, died Dec. 24, 2018, at Boston, Mass. She was 86.

She was born Feb. 7, 1932 at Osage City, the daughter of Bill and Julia Vigola. She was a supervisor for Girl Scouts of America.

She was a 1950 graduate of Osage City High School and a graduate of Emporia State Teacher’s College with a major in music.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and two sisters, Beverly Hannigan and Judy Vigola.

July 7, 1923 – Jan. 25, 2019

TOPEKA — Norman "Node" Gerisch, Overbrook, died Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, at Stormont-Vail Hospital, Topeka. He was 95.

He was born July 7, 1923, at Richland, the son of Charles and Kathrine Sheetz Gerisch. He lived most of his life around Richland and Overbrook communities.

He was a farmer all of his life and a dozer operator in construction. He was a member of Masonic Lodge at Richland and Overbrook for 74 years and Arab Shrine for many years.