1940's

1944 – Donna Claire Sanders

Donna Sanders passed away on July 2, 2012 in Kansas City, MO at the age of 88. She graduated from KU with a degree in Bacteriology followed by training at KUMC in Laboratory and X-Ray technology. She married William F. Sanders, MD, in 1944. He preceded her in death. She is survived by four children; Susan Bizeau, David Sanders, Denton Sanders and Schott Sanders. Also she is survived by five grand children and five great-grand children. (updated September 2012)

1948 – Betty Jane Knudson

Ms. Knudson passed away on Monday, July 16, 2012 in Sabetha, Kansas. Survivors include several cousins and friends. (updated September 2012)

1950's

1951 - Shirley Anne Hoyt Von Ruden

Shirley Anne Hoyt Von Ruden passed away August 11, 2012. She graduated from the University of Kansas in 1949, with a degree in Dietetics and Nutrition. She then moved to Chicago, Illinois, and worked at the Illinois Research Hospital in the Dietetics Department. While in Chicago she met William Von Ruden. They were married in 1951 and lived in Chicago, Shawano, Wisconsin, and San Francisco, California, before settling in Hutchinson, Kansas, where they raised their children, Libby and Bill (Bunk).

Survivors include: her son, Bill (Lori) Von Ruden, of Marysville, Washington; and daughter, Libby (Dave) Domann of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Kate (Jay) Lytle, Gross Pointe, MI, Anne Domann, Kansas City, Ks, John Domann, Lawrence, Ks, Melissa (Jon) Hedgcoth, Marysville, WA, Michelle (Michael) Hansen, Bellevue, WA, and Mitchell Von Ruden, Marysville, WA. (Updated December 2012)

1970's

1971 – John Francis Neas

John Neas passed away April 5, 2012. He leaves behind his brothers, William, Gregory and Patrick Neas and a nephew, Jason Neas.

After his father had given him a box of minerals as a child, John developed a passion for collecting rocks and fossils which led to a lifelong devotion to science. John earned a bachelor's, master's and Ph.D in Biology from the University of Kansas, where he was a beloved teacher of human anatomy for many years. At the time of his death, he was developing embryology teaching software for medical schools. (Updated October 2012)

1974 – Mindy Fiala

Ms. Fiala passed away October 7, 2012. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Ann Sirokman and a son-in-law Brian and sister, Cindy Johnstone. Mindy wholeheartedly loved her grandchildren, Haley, Cole and Quinn Elyse. Mindy's career included many years working in health care management and real estate. She later found her passion in teaching English literature at UMKC where she taught, counseled, encouraged, and engaged many students. (Updated November 2012)

1977 – Physical Therapy – Nedra E. Mitchell

Nedra is a Financial Advisor for Waddell Reed Financial Advisors. She has four grown children and two grandchildren. (Updated May 2012)

1978 – Richard P. Walter

Richard Walter passed away on December 12, 2011, following a courageous battle with cancer. He leaves behind many family members and friends. (Updated April 2012)

1990's

1994 – Gilbert Cruz

Gilbert Cruz passed away on August 29, 2012. Gilbert grew up in Garden City, Kansas. He joined the U.S. Army and was deployed with the 467th Fire Fighting Engineer Platoon I 1990 for Desert Shield/Storm and was awarded the Kuwaiti Liberation Medal. He graduated from the University of Kansas Medical Center in 1994 with a Bachelors of Science in Respiratory Care. He was awarded respiratory student therapist in 1993 and respiratory therapist of the year in 1995. He received his Masters of Public Health Administration from the University of Missouri. He started his first business in 1998 in a long term care facility in Richmond. He was administrator at Homestead Assisted Living and Terrace Garden Care Center in Garden City. In addition, he was President and CEO of Cruz Enterprises, LLC, a health consulting and property management company and was co-owner of Fiesta Courtyard. For the past 3 years he has been the EOO of Connections365, a tele-health monitoring company based in Carmel, CA. In Garden City, Gilbert served as Vice-Chair of the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce, Kansas Health Care Association, co-founder of the Indigent Transportation Program for Community Health Coalition, founded the Coalition of Hispanic Organizations and Professionals, Chamber's Multicultural Task Force, GI Forum, LULAC, GCCC Nursing Advisory Board & Governors Business Education Partnership Board.

He leaves behind his wife, Sherrill Cruz of Carmel, CA, son, Porter Cruz, Daughter, Piper Cruz, his parents and two brothers. (updated September 2012)

1994 – Almedia S. Brown

Ms. Brown passed away Friday, November 9, 2012 at the age of 77. (Updated December 2012)

1999 – Kyndra Lynn (Brown) Baker

Kyndra Baker passed away on September 13, 2012. Kendra loved being an occupational therapist. She was a loving mother, daughter, niece, cousin and friend. She was preceded in death by her brother, Jeffrey Brown. She leaves behind her mother and father Barbara and Charles Brown and son, Avayn James Baker along with other family members that she loved very much. (Updated October 2012)

2000's

2001 – Debra Louise Rudd

Ms. Rudd passed away November 23, 2012. She was a Medical Coder for many years and loved the Health Care Industry. Debra is survived by her mother, Dorothy Rudd and sisters, Muriel Woodburn, Diana Shaffer and three nieces and three nephews. (Updated December 2012)