In memoriam: March-April 2024

Kermit “Butch” Almstedt, age 78, of Weeki Wachee, FL, on June 17, 2023. Almstedt was a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division; assistant attorney general and chief counsel of the Missouri Antitrust Division; legislative assistant and trade counsel to U.S. Sen. John C. Danforth; and co-chair of the International Trade Litigation Group at O’Melveny & Myers, LLP. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1970. 

John W. Briscoe, age 81, of New London, on Jan. 1, 2024. Briscoe was prosecuting attorney for Ralls County and operated a law office in New London. Briscoe is a past president of The Missouri Bar. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1966. 

Adam M. Burkemper, age 48, of Troy, on June 20, 2023. Burkemper was a partner at The Burkemper Law Firm for over 20 years before taking a position at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. He graduated from the Gonzaga University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2002. 

Thomas Bennett Burkemper, age 83, of Troy, on Jan. 11, 2024. Burkemper founded The Burkemper Law Firm and practiced law for 59 years. He graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1965. 

Ross A. Bush, age 51, of Vienna, on Feb. 5, 2024. Bush was city attorney for Vienna and operated a private practice there. He graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2009. 

Roger Wayne Calton, age 73, of Laguna Niguel, CA, on Nov. 26, 2023. Calton was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1975. 

Bruce Feldacker, age 83, of Durham, NC, on Feb. 15, 2024. Feldacker served in the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps before practicing labor and employment law in St. Louis. He also taught courses at Saint Louis University School of Law, George Meany Center for Labor Studies, Indiana University, and Cornell University. He earned his juris doctor from the University of Chicago School of Law and master of laws from Georgetown University Law Center. 

John Kimball Greider Sr., age 77, of Creve Coeur, on Dec. 14, 2023. Greider practiced law in the St. Louis area for over 40 years. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1972. Greider served in the U.S. Army. 

Thomas M. Gunn, age 80, of Clayton, on Jan. 24, 2024. Gunn worked for the McDonnell Douglas Corporation, serving as vice president of marketing; president of McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company; and president of McDonnell Douglas International. He later ran The Gunn Group consulting firm. He graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1967. 

James Kenyon Heitman, age 32, of St. Louis, on May 3, 2023. Heitman was assistant circuit attorney for the City of St. Louis. He graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2018.

Rhonnie Hemphill, age 71, of O’Fallon, on June 28, 2023. Hemphill operated Hemphill Law Office, focusing on criminal defense and personal injury. He graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2010. 

Lynn C. Hoover, age 86, of Leawood, KS, on Feb. 15, 2024. Hoover worked at United Missouri Bank in Kansas City; Morris, Larsen, King, and Stamper; and Stinson, Morrison, and Hecker. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1962. 

Eugene Oliver Howard Jr., age 69, of St. Louis, on Dec. 18, 2023. Howard was a public defender for 30 years after graduating from the Saint Louis University School of Law and being admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1993. 

Hon. John Robert Jack, age 72, of Independence, on May 11, 2023. Jack was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1977. 

Lawrence Albert Knecht, age 72, of Kansas City, on Nov. 2, 2023. Knecht was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1977. 

Neil John Maune, age 62, of St. Louis, on July 16, 2023. Maune was founder and managing partner at Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1989. 

David McAllister, age 66, of Jefferson City, on June 21, 2023. McAllister was deputy counsel for the Missouri Department of Conservation. Prior to that, he held several positions including city attorney, prosecuting attorney, and assistant attorney general. He was also a frequent author and reviewer of MoBarCLE publications. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1984. 

Dwayne Wright McConnell, age 74, of Anchorage, AK, on March 28, 2023. McConnell was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1975. 

James Alan Miller, age 70, of Springfield, on March 6, 2023. Miller ran his law practice in Springfield. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1977. 

Neal Eugene Millert, age 86, of Kansas City, on Dec. 28, 2023. Millert was senior partner at Houts, James, Hogsett, McCanse & Welte. He graduated from Boston College Law School and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1962. 

Daniel V. O’Brien, age 93, of St. Louis, on Jan. 24, 2024. O’Brien was a lawyer with the U.S. Air Force; an assistant prosecuting attorney and prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County; and a private practice criminal defense lawyer. He graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1954. 

Dennis Edward O’Connell, age 79, of St. Louis, on Jan. 12, 2024. O’Connell was an associate, partner, and senior counselor at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner for 46 years. He graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1969. O’Connell served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps for the U.S. Army.

Hon. John Russell O’Malley, age 75, of Kansas City, on Oct. 2, 2023. O’Malley served as a judge for the Circuit Court of Jackson County for 20 years. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps. O’Malley graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1973. 

John Joseph Phillips, age 96, of Odessa, on Jan. 18, 2024. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1962. Phillips practiced law in the Independence area for over 50 years and served in the U.S. Navy. 

Walter Ray Phillips, age 91, of Elsberry, on Nov. 8, 2023. Phillips served in the U.S. military and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2001. 

Alan Edward Popkin, age 89, of St. Louis, on Jan. 20, 2024. Popkin was a lawyer with Husch Blackwell. He graduated from the Washington University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1963. 

Ralph Elwyn Pratt, age 92, of Independence, on April 28, 2023. He graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1959. Pratt served in the U.S. Marines. 

Karen Aline “KK” Read, age 51, of Kansas City, on Feb. 1, 2024. Read worked at Shook, Hardy & Bacon; the Missouri Attorney General’s office; and Baker Sterchi, Cowden & Rice. She graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1998. 

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

John West Rourke, age 58, of Town and Country, on June 10, 2023. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1990. 

William Garrett Stack, age 90, of Annandale, VA, on Nov. 27, 2023. Stack was a trial lawyer and associate general counsel for the National Labor Relations Board. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1965. Stack served in the U.S. Army. 

Michael James Stapp, age 67, of Shawnee, KS, on Jan. 15, 2024. Stapp worked for 40 years at Blake & Uhlig, focusing on labor law, and was general counsel of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. He graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1990. 

Buell F. Weathers, age 99, of Waco, TX, on Dec. 25, 2023. Weathers practiced with the Mann law firm in Springfield until retiring in 1997. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1950. Weathers served in the U.S. Army. 

David L. West, age 86, of Cary, NC, on Aug. 10, 2023. West was a lawyer at Blackwell, Sanders, Matheny, Weary and Lombardi. He graduated from Harvard Law School and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1962. West served in the U.S. military. 

Candis Love Young Lochmann, age 64, of Kansas City, on June 22, 2023. She worked in private practice for 37 years after graduating from the University of Missouri School of Law and being admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1984.