Ryan Pivoney/News Tribune Richard Rehklau, of Fulton, studies a M113 armored personnel carrier Sunday at the Missouri Military History Museum’s Military History Appreciation Weekend. Rehklau recalled sleeping on top of an M113 when he attended Kemper Military School in Boonville.
John Lee was born on November 16, 1934 in Pampa. He was the grandson of John and Edda Lee Haggard and the son of Mildred Bell. John Lee attended school in Miami and Pampa. He graduated from Kemper Military Institute, where he was a member of the golf and wrestling teams. He married his high school sweetheart, Anita Southard, on August 5, 1955 in Pampa, they celebrated 66 years of marriage and raised three children together. Anita preceded John Lee in death on October 7, 2021.
Rich was born January 21, 1941 in Aurora, IL. He was a graduate of Kemper Military Academy and The University of Mississippi. Following graduation Rich joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves and began his career as a financial planner in Nashville, TN.
He graduated Canton High School in 1979 and attended Kemper Military College where he earned rank of First Lieutenant. He enrolled in the United States Army Corps of Engineers and was stationed out of Canton, New York.
Allan was born and raised in the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas, growing up at the Clover Cliff Ranch in Elmdale. He enjoyed his time outside working the ranch with his family, spending the majority of his childhood exploring the many acres of land on horseback. Allan met the love of his life his senior year of high school at a rival basketball game. Allan knew the first time he laid eyes on her that he would marry her.
After high school, Allan attended Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri. In July of 1945, Allan volunteered for the Navy, where he served until the following year when he was discharged and began his education at Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Robert (Bob) Levi Traeger Sr., 99, of West Union passed away Saturday, Sep 17, 2022, in his home in West Union, Iowa. He was born August 7, 1923, to Edgar and Bessie (Book) Traeger on the family farm near Sumner, Iowa. Later the family moved to West Union.
After High School graduation in 1942, Bob attended Kemper Military school then enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and was assigned to the 8th Airforce based in England during WWII. Bob was a left waist gunner in a B-24 Liberator making 30 bombing runs over Nazi Germany. His squadron was disbanded due to heavy losses and allowed to return to the states.
Drew was born in Waco, Texas, on March 22, 1946 to Judge Andrew Gant Ponder Sr. and Maurelle Pickens Ponder and grew up in Newport, Arkansas. He graduated from Kemper Military School in 1964 and from Arkansas College in 1968. While in college, he spent a year abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, a formative experience. After graduation, Drew enlisted in the army and was stationed in Berlin, Germany, where he was the editor of a military newspaper. He married Vicki Lanier in 1972 and moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked as a speechwriter for John McClellan among other Arkansas politicians. After that, Drew briefly attended law school at the University of Arkansas, studied under Bill Clinton, and later worked on Clinton’s first congressional campaign.
Joseph was born on August 14, 1933 in Olney, Illinois, the son of Edwin Joseph and Margaret (Williams) Stoll. He was preceded in death by his sisters Joanne Joiner, Jeanine Stage and brother Edwin Sonny Stoll.
Joe attended Olney High School and graduated from Kemper Military Academy in Boonville, MO. He enlisted in the Army and served in the Korean Conflict from1954-1956.
Jay Herald Jeppson was born August 21, 1926 in Brigham City, Utah to Jay C. Jeppson and Zola Lucy Call. He passed away on September 8, 2022, in Bountiful, Utah. He was a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
He was a graduate from Kemper Military School in 1943, Brigham Young University in 1949, and University of Idaho in 1954. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and served in North Atlantic & European areas. During the Korean War, he served as Lieutenant Junior Grade aboard the USS Mathews. He was awarded the Bronze Star and other distinguished service medals. After the war, he was promoted to Lieutenant and continued to serve in the Naval Reserve.
Charles was the second child born to Charles and Frances Afflick in Memphis, Tenn., and was raised in Blytheville. He graduated from Kemper Military Academy in Booneville, Mo. After graduating from Kemper, he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He served his county with honor in the United States Air Force. After serving his country, he returned to Blytheville where he was a lifelong farmer. In 1949, he married the love of his life, Carter Boatwright in Danville, Vir. Together they had three children, Carter, Charles III and Sally. Charles was an avid sportsman and always excelled in whatever sport he played. He enjoyed fishing, playing racquetball and he loved playing tennis with Carter. They took great joy in meeting new people on their numerous travel adventures.
