Dr. Weldon Flay Zenger, 84, died Friday, March 30, 2018 at Evergreen Care Community, Olathe, Kansas.

He was born December 15, 1933 on a farm near Haddam, Kansas, the youngest of seven sons born to John Walter and Stella M. (Smith) Zenger. Weldon attended rural and Haddam public schools. He graduated from Fairbury Junior College, Fairbury, Nebraska with a teaching certificate in 1953, received B.S. and M.S. degrees from Emporia State University in 1959 and 1966; and a Doctor of Education from the University of Kansas in 1970. Dr. Zenger spent his entire life, except for two years serving in the U.S. Army, in education at various levels.

He began his teaching and coaching career in the Hanover and Washington public schools in 1953, taught in the Salina public schools during the 1960s and was a Professor of Education at Fort Hays State University for twenty-seven years from 1970 until retiring in 1997. In retirement, Weldon became an Adjunct Professor Emeritus conducting educational research at Kansas State University until 2006.

On May 27, 1956, he married Sharon K. Winters in Glasco, Kansas. She also became a Professor of Education, and with Weldon researched and wrote educational materials. Drs. Weldon and Sharon Zenger co-authored eight educational books and thirty articles in professional educational journals. Weldon was a member of numerous professional associations serving in various offices and receiving many honors and awards. Some of these included being President of the Salina City Teachers Association and the Kansas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Also, he was honored with the President’s Distinguished Scholar Award at Fort Hays University, selected as the Outstanding Curriculum Leader of Kansas and given the distinguished Alumnus Award of Southeast Nebraska Community College.

Weldon was active in church work, often teaching Sunday school and serving on the local church board, and for many years was a member of the Board of Trustees for Calvary Bible College and Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. At the time of his death he was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Manhattan, Kansas. Dr. Weldon Zenger will be forever remembered by his wife Dr. Sharon Zenger of the home; daughter Shannon Myers and husband Kevan of Prairie Village, Kansas and son Dr. Sheahon Zenger and wife Pam of Lawrence, Kansas;

Five grandchildren, Collin Myers, Houston, TX, Camron Myers, Prairie Village, Luke, Abby and Jacob Zenger, Lawrence; sister-in-law Dorothy Zenger-Cox, Cuba; many nieces and nephews, colleagues and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Stella; son Sheldon; and brothers Walter, Jr., Wendell, Wade, Wesley, Winfed, and Warren.

Viewing will be Sunday 1:00pm to 6:00pm at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral services will be 12:00 Noon Monday, April 9, 2018 at the United Methodist Church, Haddam, Kansas. Burial with Military Honors will be in the Haddam City Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the family for an Educational Scholarship Fund at Ft. Hays State University for a rural Kansas student majoring in education. Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, Belleville, Kansas has been entrusted with these arrangements.

Family will not be present at the funeral home on Sunday afternoon. They will be present at the church to greet you prior to the service.

Memorials made be made the Weldon Zenger Educational Scholarship Fund to Ft. Hays State University to a rural Kansas student majoring in education.

Dr. Robert “Bob” James Crowley, 89, Professor Emeritus of Human Development Counseling, died peacefully surrounded by family on March 17, 2018 at Concordia Village in Springfield, IL.

Bob was born in South Boston, MA on January 28, 1929, the son of Robert J. and Theresa Crowley. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Elizabeth (VanTol) and two sons, Dr. Timothy and wife Ann Crowley of Hays, KS, and Andrew and wife Kathryn of Oak Park, IL. Also survived by five grandchildren, Alexander and Samuel of Lincoln, NE, Ethan, Emory, and Caiden of Oak Park, and one sister Margaret of Florida. Many in-laws, nephews, and nieces survive. His parents, one brother, Paul and one brother-in-law Joawn, preceded him in death.

After graduating from Boston Latin School (1946), Bob received his A.B. from Boston College (1950). He volunteered for the US Army and served in the Korean War. He completed his basic training in the Signal Corps at White Sands Proving Grounds, NM, and his OCS at Fort Monmouth, NJ, where he earned his commission as 2nd Lieutenant. Bob served as a liaison officer with the Republic of Korea Army in the 85th Signal Repair Company. Bob was honorably discharged from active service as a 2nd Lt. in 1953 and from the Army Reserves as a Captain in 1966.

Returning to Boston, Bob earned a M.A. in Teaching from Harvard University Graduate School in 1955. He moved to Jackson, MI, where he was employed as a teacher and principal in elementary schools. Working as a research associate, Bob earned a Ph. D. from the University of Michigan in 1966. He worked at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, from 1967-70.

Bob was a charter member of the Sangamon State faculty in 1970. He belonged to many professional academic organizations, and retired from the University of Illinois Springfield in 2000 after 30 years of service as Professor in the Human Development Counseling program. Bob was proud of his graduate students’ accomplishments and his contributions to the internationalization of the university. He served as an exchange professor at Shanghai Normal University for three semesters. Bob was also especially proud of his work in YMCA youth soccer and leadership of Illinois Youth Symphony in their early years. He enjoyed singing in several choral groups, taking group piano lessons at LLCC, and rooting for the Chicago Cubs.

Cremation rites were accorded by Bisch Funeral Home, Springfield, and he was interred at Camp Butler National Cemetery. A memorial service and reception will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 10:30 am in Concordia Village Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to UIS Robert Crowley Scholarship Fund or to organization of the donor’s choice.