In memoriam: January-February 2024

Swanson W. “Rocky” Angle, age 81, of Frisco, TX, on Jan. 2, 2023. Angle earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a masters of laws in government contracts from George Washington School of Law. He was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1991. Angle served in the U.S. Air Force, including as a NATO trial observer and a senior legal member of the Strategic Air Command at Offutt AFB. Angle later worked as private legal counsel in St. Louis and Dallas, TX, where he retired as general counsel at Dallas Area Rapid Transit. 

P. Dale Barrett, age 76, of Kirksville, on Feb. 18, 2023. Barrett earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1975, and practiced law for over 45 years. Barrett served in the U.S. Army. 

Thomas H. Bennett, age 86, of Independence, on Aug. 4, 2023. He was a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1966. He served as general counsel for the Community of Christ Church in Independence for 32 years. Bennett served in the U.S. Army. 

David M. Bryan, age 66, of Kansas City, on Aug. 4, 2023. Bryan graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1995. 

Adam M. Burkemper, age 48, of Troy, on June 20, 2023. Burkemper earned his J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2002. He worked at the Burkemper Law Firm and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. 

Barkley Clark, age 83, of Tucson, AZ, on July 29, 2023. Clark was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1991. 

Fritz G. Faerber, age 80, of Elsah, IL, on Sept. 11, 2023. Faerber was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1968 and practiced with Faerber & Anderson, PC. He served in the JAG Corps. 

Douglas A. Forsyth Sr., age 71, of St. Louis, on Nov. 6, 2022. Forsyth operated a criminal defense practice until 2018. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1976. 

Thomas W. Gray, age 68, of Leawood, KS, on July 18, 2023. Gray was a lawyer for over 40 years and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1980. 

Robert Charles Griesbauer, age 89, of Ellisville, on Nov. 6, 2023. He was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1965. 

Charles L. “Chase” Hickman, age 72, of Hannibal, on Sept. 1, 2023. Hickman served as Palmyra city attorney for over 40 years. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1977. 

Patricia Hughes, age 73, of Holt, on Feb. 12, 2023. Hughes was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1982 and practiced with Liberty Law Offices. 

Russell D. Jones, age 73, of Independence, on Feb. 6, 2023. Jones earned his J.D. from the University of Chicago School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1974. He practiced corporate tax law with Lathrop GPM LLP for 40 years.

James “Jim” Michael Kelly, age 76, of Springfield, on Sept. 13, 2023. Kelly earned his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1972. He served as Greene County prosecuting attorney before opening a private practice. 

Stephen Matthew King, age 54, of Riverside, on July 27, 2023. He was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1995. 

Kenneth D. Kyser, age 78, of Moberly, on June 13, 2023. Kyser attended the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1968. While in Moberly, he served as assistant prosecuting attorney and juvenile officer. He opened a private practice and went on to become a partner in the Kyser and Suter Law Firm. He concluded his career in private practice and with the 14th Circuit Court. Kyser served in the U.S. Army. 

Barbara Blee Maille, age 75, of St. Louis, on Aug. 6, 2023. Maille attended the University of Kansas School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1981. She practiced at the KU Medical Center and Danna McKitrick, P.C. 

Hon. Gene R. Martin, age 97, of Kansas City, on Dec. 19, 2023. Martin earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1953. He practiced with Ennis, Browne, Martin and Tapp before serving as a judge in Division 10 of the 16th Jackson County Circuit Court. 

Charles J. Meler Jr., age 75, of Oconomowoc, WI, on Nov. 22, 2022. Meler earned his J.D. from Washington University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1974. He served as vice president and general counsel at Employers Health Insurance Company; a senior vice president and general counsel to Western Life Insurance Company; and an executive vice president at Fortis Health, Time Insurance Company. He then started his own managed care consultancy, Meler & Associates, Inc., and was majority owner of Health Care Direct, LLC. 

Maureen M. Miller, age 58, of Lake Saint Louis, on Nov. 12, 2023. Miller was general counsel at several companies in the St. Louis area and operated her own law practice. She graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1993. 

Howard T. Nelson, age 86, of Florissant, on Nov. 17, 2023. Nelson earned his J.D. from George Washington University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1969. He worked at Ralston Purina for the majority of his career. 

David G. Platt, age 40, of Bolivar, on Feb. 22, 2023. Platt was a state public defender. He graduated from Washburn University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2019. 

John M. Putzel, age 76, of St. Louis, on Oct. 3, 2023. Putzel was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1976. 

Norma Leslie Reynolds, age 58, of Overland Park, KS, on Dec. 22, 2023. Reynolds earned her J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1993. 

Jeanne Marie Rueth, age 72, of St. Louis, on March 11, 2023. Rueth was a U.S. Air Force judge advocate general. She graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1975. 

Richard D. “Rick” Sabbert, age 73, of St. Charles, on Dec. 15, 2023. Sabbert was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1977 and practiced law for 45 years. 

Charles Clifford “Chuck” “Cliff” Schwartz, age 79, of Arnold, on Nov. 27, 2023. Schwartz earned his J.D. from University of Tulsa School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1971. He practiced for 50 years. 

Robert Michael Schwartz, age 71, of Columbia, March 4, 2022. Schwartz worked in the family real estate brokerage business. He was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1993. 

Bryan H. Schemph, age 76, of Williamsburg, VA, on Oct. 14, 2023. Schemph was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1974. He was a staff judge advocate of Army Training and Doctrine Command before entering private practice at Stein & Smith, JBW&K, and finally his own firm. 

Ira H. Sharp, age 80, of Del Mar, CA, on June 10, 2023. Sharp was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1968. He was a partner at Armstrong Teasdale in St. Louis and Chief Counsel and CEO for Alderson Reporting Co. in Washington, D.C. 

Terry C. Smith, age 88, of Naples, FL, on July 16, 2023. He was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2002. 

Joseph R. Soraghan, age 82, of St. Louis, on Oct. 26, 2023. Soraghan attended Washington University School of Law and received his masters of laws from Yale University School of Law. He was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1965. Soraghan was most recently a principal at Danna McKitrick and was an adjunct professor at Washington University. He served in the U.S. Navy. 

Michael James Stapp, age 66, of Shawnee, KS, on Jan. 15, 2023. Stapp earned his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1990. Stapp practiced labor law at Blake & Uhlig for 40 years and was general counsel to the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers.

Timothy D. “Tim” Steffens, age 41, of Kansas City, on July 29, 2023. Steffens worked in corporate law for more than 15 years, 10 of them at Polsinelli. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2006. 

Peter N. Sterling, age 76, of Kansas City, on Dec. 12, 2023. Sterling attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1973. Sterling was briefly in private practice before joining the Missouri State Public Defender System, where he retired as trial division director and general counsel. 

Jack C. Stewart, age 82, of Hillsboro, on Oct. 2023. Stewart earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1965. He was a senior partner at Wegmann Law and served in the U.S. Army JAG Corps. 

Jessica L. Sullivan, age 40, of Indianapolis, IN, on Aug. 23, 2023. Sullivan graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2010. 

William (Tom) H. Thomas, Jr., age 76, of Lithia, FL, on June 2, 2023. Thomas attended the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1973. Thomas practiced law in Rolla for more than 40 years. 

Cynthia Louise Turley, age 65, of Columbia, on Dec. 22, 2023. Turley was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1983 and served as an assistant attorney general and a Supreme Court of Missouri deputy clerk. 

Robert L. Wehrman, age 79, of Blue Springs, on Aug. 11, 2023. Wehrman was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1970. 

James M. Whittier, age 85, of Mission Hills, KS, on April 19, 2023. Whittier earned his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1966. He practiced at Spencer, Fane, Britt and Browne, as well as Ferree, Bunn, Rundberg, Radom, and Ridgeway. 

Dr. Robert A. Young, age 71, of St. Louis, on July 29, 2023. Young was a plastic surgeon at St. Luke’s Hospital. He graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1997.