John Henry Suther

John Henry Suther, 69, of Topeka, passed away Wednesday, April 3, 2019, in a Topeka Hospital.  He was born in Seneca Kansas on March 16,1950, and lived with his parents, Henry C. and Emma (Ford) Suther and sisters near Frankfort, KS.  He attended school in Frankfort and graduated from Frankfort High School in 1968.He later graduated from Manhattan Area Vo-Tech in Manhattan.  He joined the US Army in March 1969 and was honorably discharged in February 1972.  He served in Vietnam and Germany.  He worked for Laird Noller Ford from 1973 until 1980 and Pepsi-Cola in Topeka from May 1980 until May 2010.   He also was an active member of Heartland Park Topeka drag racing.  He worked as a volunteer at the race track from 1988 when the track opened until May 1992, after which he became a part-time employee for drag racing events including test ‘n tunes, local, regional and also national drag racing events sponsored by the NHRA and he also enjoyed hunting.

He and Karen (Hesse) Suther were married on April 19, 1975, until his death.  He is also survived by two sons:  Patrick Suther and John D. Suther and his fiancee’ Joan Hudson, a grandson Walker John Suther and a granddaughter Harper Rae Suther and soon to be granddaughter.  He is also survived by four sisters, JoAnn (Larry) Ronnebaum of Axtell, Janet Johnson of Frankfort, Judy (Greg) Fangman of Seneca, and Joyce (George) Bauer of Hiawatha.  He was predeceased by both his parents, Henry and Emma (Ford) Suther and an infant brother, Jerry Suther.

Memorial Visitation will be Sunday, April 7, 2019 at Brennan Mathena Funeral Home from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, April 8, 2019 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 2700 SE Virginia, at 10:00 a.m. Inurnment will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery at Holy Trinity Mausoleum, 801 SW Westchester Rd.

Memorial contributions may be made for Masses, to the Team Racers for Christ, or Myasthenia Gravis Foundation and sent in the care of Brennan Mathena Funeral Home. 800 SW 6^th Ave, Topeka, KS 66603.