Joseph Richard (Dick) Green
Joseph Richard (Dick) Green, 92, of Hays died Monday, April 30, 2012 at Hays Medical Center.
He was born June 11, 1919 in Midian, Kansas, the third of seven children born to Cyril L. and Ruth (Lumpkins) Green. He graduated from Midian High School in 1937, and from Butler County Junior College in 1939. He graduated from Wichita University, with a Bachelors degree in geology and education, in 1949. During World War II, he worked for Beech Aircraft in the experimental division, developing aircraft for the war effort. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1944, and was an aviation machinist. He served in Seattle and in the Aleutian Islands.
Dick married Shirley (Seeber) Green on June 4, 1948 in El Dorado, KS. They had seven children. They have resided in Hays since 1952.
Dick was a petroleum geologist and co-owner of Green and Green Consulting Geologists, and of Green Oil Operations.
He belonged to the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Kansas Geological Society, V.F.W., and First United Methodist Church of Hays.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley, of the home; 5 sons: Richard (Pam), California, MO; Larry (Patsy), New Hope, MN; Jerry (Susan), Hays; Robert (Melissa), Bethesda, MD; Craig (Tina), Livingston, TN; one daughter, Krista (Len) Mize, Arvada, CO; 14 grandchildren: Daniel (Kinsey) Green, Hays; Ashley (Steve) Whatley, Dallas; Kacy Green, Houston; Karen (Andrew) Hester, Franklin, TN; Joseph, Mary and Matthew Green, Livingston, TN; Andrea and David Green, New Hope, MN; Susannah and Ian Green, Bethesda, MD; and Alex (Angela), Laurel and John Mize, Arvada, CO; 1 step-granddaughter, Becci Kroeger, California, MO; 3 great-grandchildren: Kasdan Green, Hays; Taylor Whatley, Dallas; and Landon Mize of Arvada, CO.
He was preceded in death by infant daughter Karen, his parents, one brother and two sisters.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 3, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church in Hays. Military honors by the Hays VFW will follow at the church. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the church. Private family inurnment will be at a later date in the Mt. Allen Cemetery, Hays. Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church or to Heifer International. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.
Thomas L. Toepfer
The Honorable Thomas L. Toepfer, 61, died Monday April 30th at his home, surrounded by loving family and friends.
Tom was born on October 4, 1950 in Hays to Anthony Lyle and Mary Alice (Clark) Toepfer.
He married Mary Glassman on November 24, 2000 at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, Hays.
He was a 1968 graduate of Hays High School, a 1972 graduate of Fort Hays State University with a degree in economics, and a 1975 graduate of Washburn University Law School. While at Washburn he was the director of the Neighborhood Youth Corps program and assistant to the director of federal programs for Topeka Public Schools.
He was a District Judge in the 23rd Judicial District for nearly 12 years, until his retirement in March, 2012. Prior to his election to the bench, he was in private practice for 24 years. He was the City Prosecutor of Hays for 23 years. He was self-employed as a paper boy in his youth.
He was a member and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of St. Anthony Hospital, a founding member and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Hays Medical Center, and was recently asked to be Director Emeritus at Hays Med. He served as a member and President of Hays U.S.D 489 Board of Education, President and member of St. Nicholas of Myra Church Parish Council, and member of the Building Committee for the Comeau Catholic Campus Center. He was Editorial Page Editor of the FHSU Leader and member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He was a member of the Ellis County and Kansas State Bar Associations, a former member of the Cancer Council of Ellis County, Executive Committee of the Kansas District Judges’ Association. He sat on the Commission on Judicial Qualifications of the State of Kansas.
He loved spending time with his family, reading, writing and golfing.
Survivors include his loving wife Mary, sons Russell and wife Kitty, Olathe, KS; Matthew Glassman and wife Haylee, Boston, MA; Anthony Glassman and girlfriend Lexi Copeland, Hays, KS; daughter Andrea Paul and husband Landon, Hays, KS. Four Grandchildren Emma, Luke and Jack Toepfer, all of Olathe and Isabelle Glassman, Boston, MA. Five brothers, Bill and Mary, Shawnee, KS; Phil and Laurie, Hays, KS; Fr. John Toepfer, Colorado Springs, CO; Mark and Sandy, Columbia, IL; and Patrick and Stacy, Hays, KS. His parents Lyle and Mary Alice Toepfer, his in-laws John and Rosie Desmarteau, all of Hays, KS.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Kathleen Toepfer in 1979.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 3, 2012 at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, Hays. Burial will be in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Hays.
Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday and from 9:00 am until 9:30 Thursday all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine. A parish vigil service will be at 7:00 pm at the funeral home on Wednesday.
Memorials are suggested to Hays Medical Center Foundation or St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.