In Memoriam, March - April 2022

Thomas William Alvey Jr., age 81, of Belleville, IL, on March 24, 2021. Alvey practiced law at Pope and Driemeyer, as well as Thompson Coburn LLP. He graduated from Washington University School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1985. Alvey served in the U.S. Army. 

Gena J. Awerkamp, age 73, of Quincy, IL, on April 2, 2020. Awerkamp practiced law in Columbia at Smith, Lewis, Beckett, and Powell before becoming a partner at Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu, and Mitchell. She graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1982. 

Hon. Stanley Douglas Brown, age 74, of St. Louis,  on Jan. 12, 2022. Brown worked as a circuit court administrator for the City of St. Louis and deputy director of the Missouri Department of Corrections. He was also an adjunct professor of legal studies at Webster University. He graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 1978. Brown served in the U.S. Army Reserves with the judge advocate general corps. 

Mary Susan Carlson, age 72, of St. Louis, on Dec. 30, 2021. Carlson founded Van Amburg, Chackes, Carlson, and Spritzer and practiced law in St. Louis. Carlson also served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2011-2013. She graduated from the University of Nebraska School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1988. 

Donald Raymond Carmody, age 79, of St. Louis,  on Dec. 19, 2021. Carmody worked in the St. Louis City Counselor’s Office before founding Carmody MacDonald P.C. in 1981. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1967. 

John W. Carter, age 85, of Dixon, on Dec. 1, 2021. Carter joined The Missouri Bar in 1965. 

Hon. Donald E. Dalton, age 88, of Mesa, AZ, on Jan. 26, 2020. Dalton served as St. Charles city attorney,  St. Charles County prosecuting attorney, and circuit judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit Court. He joined The Missouri Bar in 1955. 

Christopher Lee Davis, age 52, of Jackson, on Dec.  23, 2021. Davis worked at the Missouri State Public Defender System for more than 25 years, serving as district defender and senior public defender. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1995. 

Jessica Lynn Diamond, age 42, of St. Charles, on Oct. 21, 2021. Diamond worked at Boehmer Law, LLC, and joined The Missouri Bar in 2008.

Richard Dee Dvorak, age 63, of Overland Park, KS, on Jan. 6, 2022. Dvorak worked at Dvorak Law, Chartered, and joined The Missouri Bar in 1979. 

Ralph Edwards, age 87, of Chesterfield, on Aug. 18, 2021. Edwards practiced law with Greensfelder, Hemker, and Gale for 38 years. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar 1960. Edwards served in the U.S. Army. 

Sheryl B. Etling, age 75, of Garden City, KS, on Dec. 5, 2020. Etling was a lawyer at Stinson & Mag Law Firm and later taught law at Tulsa University and the University of South Dakota. She graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law with her J.D. and the University of Michigan with her master’s in law. She joined The Missouri Bar in 1975. 

William Bales Fisch, age 85, of Columbia, on July 7, 2021. Fisch was a law professor at the University of North Dakota School of Law and the University of Missouri School of Law for more than 40 years. He received a Bachelor of Law from the University of Illinois College of Law, a Master of Comparative Law from the University of Chicago School of Law, and a Dr Jur from Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg in Germany. Fisch joined The Missouri Bar in 1982. 

Jennifer Borron Furla, age 49, of Mission Hills, KS, on Nov. 8, 2021. Furla was the first publisher of Missouri Lawyers Weekly and worked with a national fundraising consultancy. She graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1987.

Clifford Leo Goetz, age 91, of St. Louis, on Dec. 17, 2021. Goetz was a partner at Hinkel and Carey law firm before he bought Tree Court Builders Supply, which he operated until retirement. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1956. Goetz served in the U.S. Marine Corps. 

Micalyn S. Harris, age 79, of Ridgewood, NJ, on Sept. 17, 2021. Harris served as vice president, secretary, and general counsel at Winpro Inc. She served as the chair for The Missouri Bar’s International Law Committee from 1972-73. Harris joined The Missouri Bar in 1967.  

Bruce R. Hopkins, age 80, of Kansas City, on Oct. 31, 2021. Hopkins practiced law in Kansas City and Washington D.C. for more than 50 years. He was a lecturer at George Washington University National Law Center for 19 years and a professor at the University of Kansas School of Law. He wrote numerous books on legal topics, particularly nonprofit law. Hopkins graduated from George Washington School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1999.

Charles D. Hoskins, age 52, of St. Louis, on Dec. 15, 2021. Hoskins worked as a public defender in the Capital Division of the Missouri State Public Defender System, focusing on defending those facing the death penalty. He graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1994. 

Richard L. Jones, age 65, of Winnetka, IL, on Aug. 3, 2021. Jones practiced law at several organizations, including Chicago Transit Authority, City of Chicago Corporation Counsel, and Law Office of Stephen P. Rapp. He graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago John Marshall Law School and joined The Missouri Bar in 2010. 

Diana Lynn Jordison, age 60, of Kansas City, on Jan. 9, 2022. Jordison practiced in medical malpractice defense, primarily representing hospitals and doctors for over 30 years. She retired from Horn Aylward & Band, LLC. Jordison graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1994. 

H. Carl Kuelker, age 75, of St. Louis, on Jan. 29, 2022. Kuelker was a lawyer in the St. Louis area, and he served in Vietnam. Kuelker joined The Missouri Bar in 1972. 

Gary M. Kupferle, age 79, of Ballwin, on Nov. 18, 2021. He graduated from Washington University School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1966. Kupferle served in the U.S. Air Force. 

John K. Leopard, age 95, of Gallatin, on April 23, 2021. Leopard practiced law with his father at Leopard & Leopard Law Office and served as prosecuting attorney for Daviess and Putnam counties. He graduated from the University of Kentucky School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1953. Leopard served in the U.S. Navy. 

Julie Long, age 56, of Kirkwood, on Jan. 5, 2022. Long practiced law for several years, as well as formed the nonprofit One Spirit Engineering. She graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1993. 

Stanley A. Loring Jr., age 93, of Springfield, on Oct.  13, 2021. Loring worked at aerospace manufacturing corporation McDonnell Douglas. He later worked for the federal government, examining contracts. He graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1974. 

Murry A. Marks, age 88, of St. Louis, on Jan. 21, 2022. Marks was a lawyer in the St. Louis area and opened The Marks Law Firm. He graduated from Washington University School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1963. Marks served in the U.S. Army.  

W. Thomas McGhee, age 85, of St. Louis, on Jan. 27, 2022. McGhee served as founding partner of several law firms and general counsel to numerous global corporations. He graduated from Washington University School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1961.

Edward P. McSweeney, age 93, of St. Louis, on Dec. 23, 2021. McSweeney opened a law office in Los Angeles, CA, before moving to St. Louis, where he worked as a special assistant attorney general and was a partner at McSweeney, Slater, and Merz. He graduated from Washington University School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1952. McSweeney served in the U.S. Army. 

Sister Joan C. Moran, age 86, of San Antonio, TX, on Dec. 23, 2020. Moran served in the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word’s education and law ministry in Texas, Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin. She joined The Missouri Bar in 1984.

Hon. Thad F. Niemira, age 85, of St. Louis, on Nov. 6, 2021. Niemira practiced law for more than 25 years and served as an associate circuit court judge. He joined The Missouri Bar in 1960. Niemira served in the U.S. Air Force as a judge advocate. 

Hon. Daniel W. Olsen, age 69, of Raymore, on Nov.  9, 2021. Olsen was a partner with Van Hosser, Olsen, and Eftink for 27 years, as well as served as municipal judge for Raymore, Lake Winnebago, and Garden City. He also worked as Cass County associate circuit judge for nearly 13 years. Olsen graduated from Washburn University School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1979. 

David L. Pentland Sr., age 83, of Warson Woods, on Jan. 3, 2022. Pentland practiced law in St. Louis for 56 years and served as a prosecuting attorney for Warson Woods for 26 years. He graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1965. 

Daniel T. Rabbitt Jr., age 79, of St. Louis, on March 3, 2020. Rabbitt worked at The Rabbitt Law Firm, LLC. He joined The Missouri Bar in 1964. 

Jerome Raskas, age 88, of St. Louis, on Jan. 24, 2022. Raskas was a lawyer in the St. Louis area and worked as an adjunct professor at Washington University School of Law for 36 years. He graduated from Washington University School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1959. 

Hon. James R. Reinhard, age 92, of Hannibal, on Nov. 11, 2021. Reinhard served for 20 years as a judge for the Missouri Court of Appeals-Eastern District. Prior to that position, he was a judge for the 10th Judicial Circuit Court, a prosecuting attorney for Sullivan and Monroe counties, and owner of a general practice law office in Paris. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1953. Reinhard served in the U.S. Army. 

David J. Slobodien, age 68, of Naples, FL, on May 12, 2021. Slobodien was a corporate lawyer with Dun and Bradstreet. He graduated from Washington University School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1978.

William H. Strop, age 82, of St. Joseph, on Feb. 13, 2021. Strop worked at the family law firm Strop, Watkins, Roberts, and Hale. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1963. Strop served in the Missouri Air National Guard. 

Jonathan P. Tomes, age 75, of Kansas City, on Jan. 20, 2021. Tomes served for 20 years in the U.S. Army and was a prosecutor, defense counsel, and judge for the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He later became a law professor. He joined The Missouri Bar in 1997. 

Roberta M. Truman, age 69, of Elkton, MD, on Jan. 16, 2022. Truman was a lawyer for the Federal Bureau of Prisons for more than 20 years. She graduated from Florida State University College of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1988. 

Grover C. Wilcher, age 86, of Lee’s Summit, on July 15, 2021. Wilcher served as legal counsel to Truman Medical Center. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1966. 

Hon. Jerri Bush Winger, age 77, of Unionville, on Jan. 8, 2022. Winger served as the Putnam County associate circuit judge for 15 years. She graduated from the University of Tulsa School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1982.

William Guy Wold, age 49, of St. Louis, on Jan. 12, 2022. Wold worked as a lawyer and owned the Law Office of Guy Wold. He graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1997. 

Gregory L. Vranicar, age 71, of Overland Park, KS, on Aug. 22, 2021. Vranicar practiced in Kansas City, eventually becoming a fundraiser for the Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City and the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. He graduated from the University of Iowa School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1978. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a judge advocate. 

Michael J. Zpevak, age 68, of Irving, TX, on May 12, 2020. He owned the Law Offices of Michael J. Zpevak. He graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law and joined The Missouri Bar in 1976.