Earnest J. Toepfer

Earnest J. Toepfer

Earnest J. Toepfer, age 92, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, at Guest Home Estates of Fort Scott. He was born Nov. 14, 1923, in Fort Scott, the son of Herman J. Toepfer and Lottie Fry Toepfer. Earnie graduated from Fort Scott High School and from Fort Scott Junior College. He married Clara Ruth Hefton in 1946. She preceded him in death in 1982. He later married Freda Fry in 1983. She passed away in 2011. In addition to maintaining his farm and cattle operation, Earnie owned Earnie's Office Machines located on First Street in Fort Scott for many years. He was a 69-year member of the Mt. Orum Baptist Church. He enjoyed gardening, helping others and spending time with his family. He was dearly loved by his children and grandchildren who considered him their rock and hero.

Survivors include his three daughters; Earnestine Hamilton and husband, Matthew, of Fort Scott; Becky Childers and husband, David, of Casper, Wyo., and Laura Brown, also of Fort Scott; four step-children, Leon Fry and wife, Sherral, of Hiattville, Kan., Ruth Shaffer and husband, Mitchell, of Harrisonville, Mo., Barbara Grimes and husband, Larry, of Fort Scott and Janet Morris and husband, Jerry, of Deerfield, Mo. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren and a sister-in-law, Wilma Toepfer of Kansas City, Kan. In addition to his wives, he was preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth Toepfer; two sisters, Elizabeth Ashbrook and Mildred Defebaugh; and a grandson.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m.. Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial followed in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.