Teens remembered
By Monica Springer
Originally published 10:48 a.m., September 10, 2010
Updated 01:20 p.m., September 10, 2010
Kasi Hart
Kasi Hart loved music, being outdoors, shoes and purses, her family said on Thursday afternoon.
Kasi, a 16-year-old junior at Northern Heights High School, was one of three teenagers who died in a crash on Wednesday near Americus. JoAnna Posey, 17, and Leonard Brown, 16, also died in the crash. JoAnna was a senior at Northern Heights and Leonard was a sophomore.
Friends and family said on Thursday the the teenagers were fun to be around and full of life.
Kasi had been involved in cheerleading and played clarinet. Posey had the best singing voice her friends ever heard.
“I know it happened,” Linda Germann, Kasi’s grandmother, said less than 24 hours after her granddaughter passed away. “But it hasn’t clicked.”
Kasi’s brother, Matthew Hart, 13, said his big sister was his best friend. Kasi’s mom, Amie Hart, said her daughter loved to listen to music and loved the outdoors, and even combined the two. Hart said her daughter could often be found swinging on a swing at her grandparents’, listening to music even in the rain and snow.
The family said they’re still in shock and that the last two days have been a “nightmare.”
“You don’t bury your kid,” Hart said, crying, her voice hoarse from the tears she’s shed since her daughter’s death.
Kasi was a typical 16-year-old: She liked listening to her music, including songs by R&B singer Chris Brown and country songs “Big Green Tractor,” and “Farmer’s Daughter.” She was also a talented artist, her family said. She won an award for graphic/arts airbrush artwork last school year.
Amie, Linda and Matthew smiled when they talked about Kasi’s shared memories of her.
“She had a pretty smile. A very beautiful, pretty smile,” her mother, Aime, said. “She was beautiful and earned very good grades.”
Linda Germann said her granddaughter was a very outgoing, social person and liked to watch wrestling with her grandfather, Phil Germann.
“She’s just a total sweetheart,” Linda Germann said. “She succeeded in whatever she tried.”
Kasi was born on March 18, 1994. Her full name is Kasidy, and her family said she preferred to be called Kasi.
She was especially close to her family, including her mother and father, Steven Hart; her aunt, Teresa Marquez; uncles Phillip Germann Jr. and Travis Germann; along with other nieces, nephews, and other family members.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
JoAnna Posey
JoAnna, 17, was a good singer and always had a smile on her face, said Echo Rodecap, who knew JoAnna for about three years.
“She was such an amazing girl. She always had a smile on her face and was always happy. JoAnna was and is still a very beautiful young lady who shouldn’t have been taken away so fast,” Rodecap said.
She continued: “She has changed mine and my family’s life. She will always be in our hearts and our memories.”
Rodecap knew JoAnna because their mothers are good friends, Rodecap said. She said once she met JoAnna they got along from the start.
“She was an amazing person and will continue to be amazing in heaven with God,” Rodecap said.
An obituary for JoAnna can be found on page 2 of today’s Emporia Gazette.
There will be funeral services on Tuesday at Bethel Baptist Church at 2 p.m. The family will greet friends on Monday from 7 to 8 p.m. at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home. Memorial donations can be sent in care of the funeral home.
JoAnna, the daughter of Camden David and Tracy Diane McKee Posey, was born July 15, 1993. She worked at the Emporia Wendy’s.
She is survived by her parents, of Americus; two brothers, Joshua David Posey and Jacob Blain Posey; a sister, Cami Diane Posey; grandparents Jerry and Sherryl McKee of Emporia and Linda Posey of Shawnee; and one niece, Jamee Sue Posey of Emporia.
JoAnna was a senior at Northern Heights. She participated in forensics during her junior year of high school.
Kristyn Kraus described JoAnna as a nice, spunky girl.
“I love her a lot,” Kraus said.
She recalled memories of JoAnna, one being dancing to an R&B song, “Ridin Solo.”
She has memories of other funny moments in class, when JoAnna’s sense of humor made other people laugh so hard milk came out of their noses.
“I’m going to miss her a lot and I love her a lot,” Kraus said.
Josie Burton was good friends with JoAnna before Burton moved to Wichita.
“I miss seeing her wonderful face and hearing her beautiful voice,” Burton said. “I’m not sure that I will ever be as close to someone as I was to her.”
Burton said words can’t explain how much she loved JoAnna.
“Her smile was one that could brighten anyone’s day and her voice was the soundtrack to my life,” Burton said. “Many of us believe that God just ran out of angels and needed a few more.”
Lenny Brown
These are tributes on Lenny Brown’s Facebook page. A story about Lenny will appear in Saturday’s Gazette.
Dakota: I keep wondering why you left and why you couldnt stay? the moment that you left us i closed my eyes and prayed.
Lane: Lenny im gonna miss always seeing you in school and other places, its gonna be hard but I’ll catch up with you again someday, R.I.P Lenny!
Luke: Hey Lenny I remember sitting by you yesterday in lunch and laughing it up and now you’re gone :’( make sure you Joanna and kasi look over us.
Auzzie: Lil brother... I miss ya already. Your in my heart forever... and for you I will do bullriding next year in your memory in your spirit... I love ya lil brother. I know your in good hands now... and I will carry out your name.
Jessie: Hey bud just had to stop in and tell you that I am going to miss you!
Brandon: R.I.P lenny im going to miss u.
Melinda: Lenny, I’m gonna miss you buddy. Just yesterday we were standing in the hallway laughing and now you’re gone. Take good care of Kasi and Joanna.
Katie: I love you, I miss you, I want you back. Your smile fixed my problems, I could come to you with everything and when you talked it out with me it was always better.
Lindsee: Lenny, I havent stopped thinking about you. I’m gonna miss you like crazy! We have had a lot of great memories! I’m gonna miss your smiling face. Take care of Joanna and Kasi.
Cody: Lenny, you were awesome. I have known you forever. I wish you were here.
Jacinda: I will miss you! And the nights we just hung out to have a good time even if there was nothing really to do.
Brittnie: I miss you so much already Lenny. I wish this never would have happened.
'Pretty amazing girl'
Drew Andersen, 15, lived next door to Kasi for a couple of years. Andersen said she and Kasi hung out often.
“She was outgoing. She was unique. She was a good friend,” Andersen said.
Kasi frequently told people that she wasn’t short, she was fun-size, Andersen said. Andersen said she bought a T-shirt for Kasi with that saying on it.
Andersen said she last saw her friend on Tuesday. And when she learned about the vehicle crash, she said she was in shock.
“I started screaming and saying “Oh my gosh, she’s gone,’” Andersen said. “I started crying so bad. I was in total shock. I was like, ‘No, please, no.’”
The two had plans to hang out together in Emporia on Wednesday night, and Andersen said a shopping outing in Topeka was also in the works.
“We will miss her and love her dearly. We will always cherish the memories we had,” Andersen said.
Kayla Mumma lives next door to Kasi’s father in Lyon County and said she considered Kasi her little sister. Mumma has a young son and said Kasi was always eager to baby-sit.
“She was always there if I needed anything,” Mumma said. “She was great in school. She was just all-around a pretty amazing girl.”
Mumma, who is 22, recalled a story about Kasi that happened a few months ago. Mumma bought an old Chevy truck and Hart said she should do “something crazy with it.”
Mumma took her advice and spray painted the truck pink. Kasi started referring to Mumma as her “crazy sister, crazy Kayla.”
“She was so down to Earth. It was funny. I knew she’d love it and that’s why I did it,” Mumma said.
Ronnie LeBlanc, who works at Dolly Madison with Kasi and JoAnna’s fathers, said the tragedy has impacted the Americus community.
“Both dads are loving, caring guys,” LeBlanc said. “They’re always smiling and telling jokes.”
LeBlanc said Kasi’s father’s birthday was on Thursday. She was planning to make him a cake.
LeBlanc dropped off a letter to The Gazette he wrote that read: “Dad, Today’s the day. The cake is cooling. The frosting is ready. I wish I was there.” The letter’s signed “Heaven sent.”
Friends and family of Kasi’s and JoAnna’s are posting messages to their Facebook accounts. There are also groups that were created after the crash to remember the teens.
Allison Morgan Kohlman posted on Kasi’s Facebook: “I love you girl, I love you so much. Every time I think about you my heart breaks and it feels like it’s crushing. I love you girl and you know it. I miss you and I will never forget you.”
Crash
The crash happened at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday three miles north of Americus on Americus Road.
According to the highway patrol, the car the teenagers were in, a 1996 Toyota Corolla, was southbound when it drifted off the right side or west edge of the road.
At the same time, 80-year-old Andrew Blythe of Council Grove was driving north of Americus Road in a 2000 GMC pickup truck.
After drifting off the road, the driver of the car tried to steer back onto the road and overcorrected, according to the KHP report, then steered back to the right and began sliding.
The car entered the path of the truck and the truck struck the car in the left rear corner.
Three people were taken to hospitals after the accident. Leonard Brown, 16, of Americus, was taken to the University of Kansas hospital. He died Thursday evening. Warren Ruhl and Kasi Hart were taken to Newman Regional Health in Emporia.
Kasi died at the hospital just before 6 p.m. Wednesday. JoAnna was pronounced dead at the scene.
Both the truck driver and his passenger, 42-year-old Sherri Henson of Council Grove, were also taken to Newman. Blythe and Ruhl were treated and released, according to Newman officials. Blythe was the only occupant in both vehicles that was wearing a seatbelt.
Memorial Fund
The following memorials or events have been established to raise funds for the families affected by Tuesday’s crash:
- A memorial fund has been set up to help Kasi Hart’s family with the cost of arrangements. Those who wish to contribute can make donations to the Kasidy Hart Memorial Fund at Lyon County State Bank, 902 Merchant St., Emporia, KS, 66801.
- Memorial donations in JoAnna’s name can be made to Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, 605 State Street, Emporia, KS 66801.
- There is also going to be a memorial benefit for JoAnna Posey at 9 a.m. Saturday at Journey’s Salon, 1007 Commercial Street All proceeds will go to help with the funeral arrangements, and donations can also be directed there.
- Hunt 4 Hunger will donate all proceeds from their raffle at the Bluestem, Conservation Days to the families. The tickets are a $1 for a chance at a $50 gift card from Bluestem or the winner can donate the money back to the funds for the families. Contact Tonya Carson with any questions at 785-366-3565.
- There will be a booth set up in the 700 block of Commercial Street on the east side accepting donations and having a raffle for the families on Saturday. The organizers are also looking for door prizes. Contact Janet Burenheide at (620) 794-6076 or Mary Sonnakolb at (785) 217-5270.
- A fund has also been set up at KansasLand Bank, 702 Main Street, Americus, KS 67752 for the families affected.
fuggetabodit (anonymous) says...
Well, I know I am going to sound cold-hearted. I read the print Gazette edition, and while I am certainly sorry about this terrible accident, I'm equally concerned about the driver of the other vehicle (who was the only person, including the passenger in his vehicle, to wear a seat belt.) I'm also not convinced that schools focusing upon all the counseling for tragedies are doing the right thing. While this accident is very sad and should not have happened, did it really warrant the prominent placement on the Gazette's front page? Perhaps a focus upon teen driving safety would be by far the best way to make sense of the accident.
I shall begin ducking now!
September 10, 2010 at 6:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ToxicPink (anonymous) says...
I just hope the man driving the truck is getting some counseling. No one thinks about the driver. He has to live with this the rest of his life, we need to be just as concerned with him as we are with the rest of the families.
I worry about him and his well-being.
September 10, 2010 at 7:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
And those that stopped to help, those that responded to help, those that put their lives on the line trying to save the kids, those that are stepping up to assist in funeral costs and support for the families.
Thank you all.
September 10, 2010 at 9:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oddball4_life (anonymous) says...
i agree about having concern for the other driver but i am also concerned for the other teen that survived the accident. i hope he is holding up alright. i know from experience that when you go through a terrible accident with others involved it really takes a toll on your well being when you continually go over what happened and all of the what-ifs that go through your head. we need keep him in our thoughts also
September 11, 2010 at 1:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
miss_thang (anonymous) says...
Well from what i understand the kid that lived was actually driving and lied to the sheriffs about it. I too am worried about how he is goin to deal with it but i think that coming clean is the first step.But i guess that will all come out later. All my thoughts and prayers to them all. RIP Gods little Angels
September 14, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Baby_girl_03 (anonymous) says...
i sure don't know what all the parents and friends are going through that actually lost the people that died in this but i am best friends with the one teen that did survive and i know that this is killing me to know that i almost lost my best friend so i can only amagin what you all are going through RIP everyone
September 15, 2010 at 10:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )