Local Obituaries for Topeka, Kansas & Shawnee County
Geneva E. Berry
Mar 1, 2015
Geneva E. Berry, 96, of Topeka, died March 1, 2015 at Topeka Presbyterian Manor. She was born in Osage County, Missouri, the daughter of Alex and Emma (Starke) Lock. She married Ivan K. Berry on May 15, 1944 in Hiawatha, Kansas. He preceded her in death on August 22, 1988. Geneva's passions were her family and her church and she...
Carol B. Bonebrake
Feb 26, 2015
Carol Llewellyn (Buchele) Bonebrake, AKA "Carol Lew" to her husband, "LuLu" to her sisters and "A.R." for Always Right to her children, 65, of Topeka, died on February 26, 2015 at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Carol was born on December 28, 1949 in Arkansas City, Kansas, the daughter of Julian and Vergie (Bryant) Buchele. Carol grew up in...
Rita M. Thompson
Feb 18, 2015
Rita Mary DeVader Lee Thompson, 90 of Wamego, KS, formerly of Topeka, KS, died February 18, 2015 at the Wamego Health Center. She has lived at Vintage Park in Wamego for the past eight years. She was born August 28, 1924 at Emmett, KS, the daughter of Alfred John and Emma Marie (Homan) DeVader. She graduated from Holy Cross Grade...
Berniece W. Schembs
Feb 16, 2015
Berniece W. Schembs, 83, of Topeka, died February 16, 2015. She was born in La Cygne, Kansas on October 10, 1931, the daughter of Alonzo and Lilly (Welda) Wills. Berniece is survived by her daughter, Karen Lusso (Kyle) of Topeka, grandchildren, Anne Cooley, Mary Pierson (Steve), Dennis Cooley (Kate). Four great-grandchildren, Brady, Teagen, Vance, and Sloane also survive. She was...
Bryson Michael Swader
Feb 11, 2015
Bryson Michael Swader, was born to Michael Duane and Jennifer Lynn (Petersen) Swader on February 7th and went to heaven on February 11th. He is survived by his parents, Michael and Jennifer Swader of the home, his grandparents, Thomas and Sandy Swader, Lonnie Petersen and Kim Kidwell all of Topeka, great grandparents, Jean Petersen, Norma Kidwell and Lois Busey. He...
Dolores R. "Dodie" Whaley
Feb 5, 2015
Dolores R. "Dodie" Whaley, 76, of Topeka, KS, died February 5, 2015 at her home. She was born on June 21, 1938 in Rochester, New York, the daughter of Bill and Jeannette (Ziener) Miller. She was one of fourteen children. Dodie moved to Topeka in 2006 from Rochester, NY while in Topeka she attended the South Knollwood Baptist Church. She...
Catherine A. "Cappie" Hahn
Feb 3, 2015
Catherine A. "Cappie" Hahn, 93, of Topeka, Kansas, died Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at the House at Midland Care. She was born May 21, 1921 in Buffalo, New York, the daughter of Elmer and Clara (Albrecht) Hahn. Cappie worked for RCA for 34 years moving to Topeka in 1981 from New Jersey. She was a member of St. Matthew Catholic...
Dolly Christine Lewis
Feb 2, 2015
Dolly Christine Lewis, 50, of Topeka, KS died February 2, 2015 at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She was born July 2, 1964 in Topeka, the daughter of Carl Anthony and Sylivia (Martinez) Frye. Dolly was a before and after school care provider at the YMCA. She was a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. Dolly was a...
Nicholas N. Ortiz, Sr.
Jan 29, 2015
Nicholas N. Ortiz, Sr., 80, of Topeka, died January 29, 2015 at The House at Midland Care surrounded by his family. He was born in Carbondale, Kansas on December 6, 1934, the son of Socorro and Jesus (Navarette) Ortiz. Nicholas retired from Santa Fe Railway where he worked for 43 years as a Carman. He enjoyed woodworking, cooking, gardening, photography,...
William J. "Bill" Dinger
Jan 23, 2015
William J. "Bill" Dinger, 89, of Topeka, KS died January 23, 2015 at his home. Bill was born December 3, 1925 in Cranberry, WV. He was an Army WW II Veteran. Bill was a welder for BNSF retiring after 32 years of employment. Survivors include his children, Willie Dinger of Scranton, Gaye Wheeler of Mayetta, Chuck Dinger of Topeka, Betty...
Phillip J. Rose, Sr.
Jan 21, 2015
Phillip J. Rose Sr., 68, of Topeka, died January 21, 2015 at St. Francis Hospital. Phil was born December 19, 1946 in Tonkawa, OK, to Harrison and Mary (Bradley) Rose. Phil served his country by enlisting in the United States Navy; he was honorably discharged due to medical reasons. He had a love for country music, fishing, cooking and most...
Pauline Mary (Waske) Hayes
Jan 19, 2015
Pauline Mary (Waske) Hayes, 97, of Topeka, KS, died January 19, 2015 at Stormont-Vail Hospital. She was born February 27, 1917 in Talmage, IA the daughter of Louis and Ida (Weis) Waske. Prior to her marriage she taught in a one room school house in Thayer, IA. Pauline was a member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church where...
Anna E. Barnard
Jan 17, 2015
Anna E. "Ann" Barnard, 88, of Topeka, died January 17th. She was born in Perry, Kansas on January 2, 1927 the daughter of James and Pauline (Hujing) Hackett. She worked at Southwestern Bell as a supervisor for 11 years and then for USD #501 for 34 years prior to her retirement. She also assisted her husband in running the family...
Barbara Ruth Killam
Jan 16, 2015
Barbara Ruth Killam, 76, of Topeka, died January 16, 2015 at her home. She was born in Wamego, Kansas on October 25, 1938, the daughter of Milton and Alice (Lintz) Marten. Barbara worked for 42 years as a Registered Nurse, for the St. Francis, Stormont-Vail, and Veterans Administration Hospitals. She enjoyed reading, watching game shows on television, doing all kinds...
Catherine Miller
Jan 15, 2015
Catherine Miller, 98, of Topeka, Kansas, died January 15, 2015 at Lexington Park. She was born December 5, 1916 in Blaine, Kansas, the daughter of Robert and Bridget (Hudson) Minihan. Catherine was a very sweet lady who enjoyed life to the fullest with her family and her faith always at the center. She was "Grandma Miller" to so many who...
Martha Jean "Mishsekwe" Valdivia
Jan 11, 2015
Martha Jean "Mishsekwe" Valdivia, 67, of Topeka, died January 11, 2015 at the House at Midland Care surrounded by her family. She was born in Holton, Kansas on February 27, 1947 the daughter of Peter and Mary "Shugo" (Moore) Levier. Martha was retired as a Data Processor for Southwestern Bell after over 20 years of service. She was a member...
Rodolfo G. Arzate II
Jan 10, 2015
Rodolfo "Rudy" G. Arzate II, passed peacefully on the morning of January 10, 2015, surrounded by loved ones in Topeka. He was born June 10, 1946 in Chihuahua, Chihuahua Mexico where he grew up. He later moved to Topeka. As a hard worker and skilled in many trades, he worked as an animal control officer for 20 years. He retired...
Francis A. "Frank" Kinney
Jan 6, 2015
Francis A. "Frank" Kinney, 86, passed away on January 6, 2015 with his daughter at his side. Frank suffered from Alzheimer's disease and cancer. He was born January 31, 1928 in Sioux Falls, SD. He began his career in the car business with his father selling new Studebakers and used cars at Kinney's Auto Sales in Flandreau, SD. By 1954...
Amy Genevieve "Gen" Werly
Jan 3, 2015
Amy Genevieve "Gen" Werly, 93, of Topeka, died January 3, 2015 at Stormont-Vail Hospital. She was born in Haverhill, Kansas on July 15, 1921 the daughter of Charles Russell and Amy Effie Lipscomb. Gen was a member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Church. She was a devoted wife and mother. She married Warren Joseph Werly in Wichita, Kansas on...
Eileen Geraghty
Jan 3, 2015
Eileen Geraghty, 91, of Topeka, died January 3, 2015 at Aldersgate Village Nursing Home. She was born in Wakefield, Kansas on August 13, 1923 the daughter of Charles P. and Ellen M. (Sherbert) Gates. She attended Wakefield High School and received her RN nursing degree from Christ Hospital School of Nursing in 1945 and was a member of the Alumni....

