In memoriam: November-December 2025

Tyler Johnston Bateman, age 78, of Weldon Spring, on Nov. 2, 2024. Bateman graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1979. He practiced for 40 years in Illinois and had a passion for public defending. Bateman served in the U.S. Navy. 

James Beavers, age 90, of Taylorville, Illinois, on Sept. 27, 2024. Beavers graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1965. He worked for the IRS and later joined the law firm Hershey and Bliss. He then became a senior partner in the firm Beavers, Calvert, and Brotherton. 

Charles Brent Bertram, age 69, of Kansas City, on Sept. 13, 2025. Bertram was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1991. 

Douglas James Bieller, age 46, of Chesterfield, on June 23, 2025. Bieller graduated from the Southern Illinois University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2007. Bieller was a lawyer focused on in insurance defense, construction law, product liability, and toxic tort. 

William J. Billeaud Sr., age 88, of Mandeville, Louisiana, on Feb. 17, 2025. Billeaud graduated from Loyola University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1990. He practiced law across several states and was president of the Madison County Bar Association. He served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a judge advocate. 

Lloyd Buehner III, age 81, of Joplin, on Aug. 12, 2025. Buehner graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1969. He joined the firm of Buehner and Thomas in Joplin, then formed Buehner and Buehner with his father. He was local counsel for the Kansas City Southern Railway Company while he maintained a general civil practice. He continued practicing solo after his father’s death and was of counsel to two law firms. 

Roger Guy Burnett, age 89, of Liberty, on Sept. 13, 2024. Burnett graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1968. He was a lawyer on the Historic Downtown Liberty Square for five decades. 

Donald Lee Catlett, age 69, of Columbia, on Sept. 30, 2025. Catlett graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1982. He worked for the Missouri State Public Defender System and was a capital defense lawyer. 

Ananta “Mark” Chotimongkol, age 52, of Wichita, Kansas, on Sept. 9, 2025. Chotimongkol graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2001. He worked for the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. 

Hon. Fredrich “Fred” James Cruse, age 78, of Hannibal, on Sept. 14, 2025. Cruse was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1974. He received the Missouri Bar Solo and Small Firm Committee Distinguished Service Award and was a Senior Counselor at The Missouri Bar. Cruse practiced in Hannibal and Quincy, Illinois, and was a municipal judge in Hannibal. Cruse served in the U.S. Marine Corps. 

Douglas Henry “Doug” Delsemme, age 82, of Kansas City, on Aug. 14, 2025. Delsemme graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1969. He was vice president and general counsel for Hodgdon Powder Company Inc. 

David M. Dolan, age 95, of St. Louis, on July 31, 2025. Dolan graduated from the Washington University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1957. He served as counsel to automobile dealers and was an advisor and entrepreneur in the banking and real estate industries. Dolan served in the U.S. Army. 

Walter Samuel Drusch, age 87, of Jackson, on Jan. 15, 2025. Drusch graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1963. He briefly practiced in St. Louis, then worked with Al Spradling in Cape Girardeau. He partnered with Albert Lowes in the Lowes and Drusch Law Firm. Drusch served in the Missouri National Guard. 

John D. Dwyer Jr., age 82, of St. Louis, on Aug. 14, 2025. Dwyer graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1982. He was a public defender, then worked in family law. He was a guardian ad litem. 

Frank L. Espinosa, age 96, of Kansas City, on May 24, 2025. Espinosa was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1959. He worked for State Farm Insurance Co. for 33 years. Espinosa served in the U.S. Navy. 

John Lawrence Fitzgerald Jr., age 94, of Kansas City, on Dec. 19, 2023. Fitzgerald graduated from the Kansas City University (now the University of Missouri-Kansas City) School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1957. Fitzgerald worked for the Federal Aviation Administration until his retirement and provided legal representation to parents adopting children through Catholic Charities. Fitzgerald served in the U.S. Army. 

Lynden Neal Goodwin, age 92, of Chesterfield, on April 29, 2025. Goodwin graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1958. Goodwin was a patent lawyer and worked for several companies during his career, including Mallinckrodt and Monsanto. 

Robert G. Greenberg, age 92, of Ballwin, on Aug. 27, 2025. Greenberg was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1955 and worked in real estate. 

Eugene Charles Hall, age 94, of Kansas City, on Dec. 21, 2024. Hall graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1958. He was a lawyer and assistant secretary of Hallmark Cards, Inc. He then joined the Gage and Tucker law firm (now Lathrop GPM), retiring as a senior partner. He was a Senior Counselor with The Missouri Bar and a founder and past director of Attorneys Liability Assurance Society. Hall served in the U.S. Army and was a major in the Judge Advocate General Corps in the Army Reserve. 

William G. Haynes, age 92, of Topeka, Kansas, on Jan. 3, 2025. Haynes graduated from the Washburn University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1958. He was a trial lawyer for the National Labor Relations Board and labor council for the Kansas Contractors Association. He was a lecturer at Saint Louis University and a law partner with Eidson, Lewis, Porter and Haynes. He later joined Frieden, Haynes, and Forbes. Haynes served in the U.S. Air Force. 

James “Jim” William Herron, age 88, of St. Louis, on Aug. 8, 2023. Herron graduated from the Washington University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1967. He worked at Lewis, Rice & Fingersh and was a lecturer at Washington University. 

Patricia A. Hollander, age 92, of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, on March 27, 2020. Hollander was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1952. 

Curt D. Hoover, age 59, of Lenexa, Kansas, on Feb. 16, 2024. Hoover graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1991. Hoover had a private practice, worked as a public defender, joined the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office, and ended his career at the Olathe City Attorney’s Office. 

Vincent F. “Mike” Igoe Jr., age 79, of Liberty, on Jan. 12, 2025. Igoe graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1972. Igoe was a Missouri assistant attorney general and special assistant prosecuting attorney. He taught at UMKC School of Law and William Jewell College. He was a lawyer and partner at Withers, Brant, Igoe, and Mullenix, P.C. He was a member of The Missouri Bar Board of Governors and held several leadership positions in The Missouri Bar, Clay County Bar, and Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. He was the school attorney for Notre Dame de Sion Schools. 

Thomas John Kavanaugh, age 83, of St. Louis, on April 8, 2025. Kavanaugh was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1966. 

Hon. Leo Kelly, age 89, of Kansas City, on Aug. 5, 2024. Kelly graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1967. He received advanced law degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and New York University schools of law. He was an assistant prosecuting attorney for the City of Kansas City and an administrative law judge for the Missouri State Tax Commission. Kelly also owned a private practice and served in the U.S. Navy. 

William B. Kircher, age 88, of Overland Park, Kansas, on Aug. 1, 2025. Kircher graduated from Catholic University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1965. He was an intellectual property lawyer with Kokjer, Kircher, Bowman and Johnson in Kansas City. 

Charles Edward Kirksey Jr., age 78, of St. Louis, on Aug. 20, 2025. Kirksey was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1973. 

Hon. Douglas Elmore Long Jr., age 89, of Waynesville, on March 28, 2024. Long was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1962. He was a longtime circuit judge for the 25th Judicial Circuit. 

Brett M. Mares, age 40, of Chicago, Illinois, on March 2, 2025. Mares was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2012. Mares joined Heyl Royster in 2011 and was in-house ethics counsel. He founded the nonprofit Disaster Relief Volunteer Services and was a human rights fellow at Northwestern University School of Law’s Center for Wrongful Convictions.

Thomas B. Martin, age 92, of St. Louis, on March 31, 2023. Martin graduated from the Washington University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1956. He worked as a corporate lawyer. 

Edward J. McShane Jr., age 92, of Kansas City, on July 24, 2025. McShane graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1959. He worked for the Farmers Insurance Company and City National Bank and Trust Co., now known as UMB Bank, becoming divisional executive vice president as head of the trust department. McShane served in the U.S. Army. 

Rodney Owen McWhinney, age 90, of Sante Fe, New Mexico, on March 5, 2024. McWhinney was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1966. 

Timothy William Monsees, age 70, of Kansas City, on Sept. 25, 2025. Monsees graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1981. Monsees began practicing at Morris and Larson, then Myerson, Monsees, and Morrow. He then started a firm with Rich Miller and Dan DeFeo, then David Mayer. He was chairman of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation. 

Robert E. Northrip, age 84, of Mission Hills, Kansas, on Feb. 12, 2024. Northrip graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1968. He practiced at Shook, Hardy & Bacon, becoming partner in 1973, and was managing partner of Shook’s London office. Northrip served in the U.S. Army. 

Gerhard James Petzall, age 94, of Ballwin, on Aug. 12, 2025. Petzall graduated from the Washington University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1958. He was a founding partner of Guilfoil, Petzall, and Shoemake. Petzall served in the U.S. Army. 

Elizabeth Anne Phillips, age 58, of Newark, California, on Aug. 8, 2025. Phillips graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1992. She practiced law with her mother in the firm Phillips and Phillips. She moved to Colorado and was legal counsel for private corporations in Aspen. 

Ron Prenger, age 83, of Jefferson City, on Nov. 13, 2024. Prenger graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1970. He started his own practice and was the legal counsel for the Missouri Senate. He also was an assistant prosecutor and counsel for the Missouri Highway Department and Missouri State Parks. Prenger served in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserves, and Missouri Army National Guard. 

John Kennedy Roedel, age 86, of University City, on July 8, 2024. Roedel graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1969. He joined the firm of Koenig, Senniger, Powers and Leavitt, becoming partner in 1974. He also taught at Saint Louis University. 

Anthony Joseph “Tony” Romano, age 66, of Kansas City, on April 13, 2025. Romano graduated from Washburn Law School and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1987. He was an associate attorney at the Polsinelli Law Firm. After 29 years there, he joined Littler Mendelson for the remainder of his career.

Henry Lewin Schweich, age 91, of St. Louis, on Dec. 4, 2023. Schweich graduated from Harvard Law School and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1958. He was the CEO of Cerro Copper Products Co. 

Dennis Sheppard, age 75, of Springfield, on Sept. 19, 2025. Sheppard was general counsel for the Springfield Remanufacturing Company for more than 30 years. He was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1976. 

Clyde Lewell Smith, age 55, of Byrnes Mill, on July 18, 2025. Smith was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1999. 

Bianca (Bondon) Sullivan, age 51, of Lee’s Summit, on Dec. 4, 2024. Sullivan graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 2008. She practiced at Sullivan Law LLC with her husband. 

Frank Susman, age 84, of Surprise, Arizona, on Aug. 31, 2025. Susman was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1966. He worked with his father at Susman, Schermer, Rimmel & Shifrin. He served as a special consultant on police matters for the St. Louis County Council.

James Edward Thompson Jr., age 84, of Harrisonville, on June 30, 2024. Thompson graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1964. Thompson worked for Crouch, Spanger, Douglas Law Firm. 

Richard “Dick” Unruh, age 84, of Kansas City, on Dec. 24, 2024. He was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1965 and spent his early career as a lawyer in Kansas City. He later moved to Telluride, Colorado, and was a district attorney and defense lawyer. 

Hon. William H. Webster, age 101, of Washington D.C., on Aug. 8, 2025. Webster graduated from the Washington University School of Law and was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1949. Webster began his career at Armstrong Teasdale and later served as a federal district judge and a judge on the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He was appointed FBI director and CIA director. He served as chairman of the Homeland Security Advisory Council and was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Webster served in the U.S. Navy. 

Thomas W. Werner, age 94, of St. Louis, on June 28, 2025. Werner was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1959.