Mar 27, 2022

Dr. D. Kent Hurn, age 79, passed away on March 27, 2022 after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinsonism. Kent was born in Kingman, Kansas on July 4, 1942.Kent was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence J. Hurn and Jean Wilson Spurrier, and his step-dad, Alvin Spurrier. He was married to Janice Spencer from 1965 to...

Mar 26, 2022

Carla C. Mendez, age 75, of Topeka, passed away Saturday, March 26, 2022 at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka.  Carla was born October 21, 1946 in Salina, Kansas the daughter of Richard and Redora (Carter) Ford.  She graduated from Minneapolis High School.  She married John Mendez, they later divorced.  Later in life, she worked at KNI, Kmart, Dillon's and...

Mar 26, 2022

Betty Ann Turpin, 89, of Meriden, Kansas passed away on March 26, 2022.   She was born August 26, 1932 in Topeka, the daughter of Lester and Edna Runyan Brown.  Betty was one of nine siblings in her family growing up Topeka, Kansas.   She attended Perry United Methodist Church while growing up.   She was a homemaker but also worked for...

Mar 23, 2022

Carol A. Essman, age 81, of Topeka, passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at the Stormont Vail Hospital.  Carol was born January 5, 1941 in Clifton, KS the daughter of George and Ruby Short.  She graduated from Clifton High School.  She married Johnny Essman June 29, 1973.  She worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield in Topeka as a manager....

Mar 22, 2022

Barbara Jean Collins, 89, of Topeka, passed away on March 22, 2022 at Stormont Vail Hospital. Barbara was born on October 18, 1932 to Phillip and Elizabeth (Copeland) Gunkle in Emporia, KS. She graduated from Emporia High School in 1950.She worked as a Mail Sorter for The United States Postal Service up until her retirement. She married David Baker. He...

Mar 22, 2022

Janice Eileen Reed Jeane, age 97 passed away on March 22, 2022 in Topeka, Kansas. Janice was born on October 3, 1924 in Kansas City, MO to Lowell T. Reed and Mary Ruth Cannon Reed. She graduated from Florence Union High School in Florence, AZ in 1942. Janice was raised on a cattle ranch in Arizona and loved her horses...

Mar 21, 2022

John Alfred Zempel, 68, of Topeka, Kansas, tragically passed away on March 21, 2022. He was my older brother.

John was captivated and enthralled by space. If he could have found a way to be on a space shuttle, that would have been his dream. My very first memories were of my big brother coming home from...

Mar 21, 2022

Marian Lee Bednasek, 85, of Topeka, passed away on March 21, 2022. She was born on April 23, 1936 to Walter and Minnie (Baker) Harrison in Topeka, KS. Marian graduated from Topeka High School in 1954. After graduation she worked for the Shawnee County Extension Office. On September 13, 1959, she married Kenneth Lee Bednasek, and started their family.Later she...

Mar 16, 2022

Dale E. Pope, age 94, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, March 16, 2022.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn, two brothers, five sisters and a son-in-law.  He is survived by three children: Lenelle Mangold and her husband Kent, Michelle Hoffman, and Kent Pope and his wife, Marsha; six grandchildren: Dalynn...

Mar 12, 2022

Jerome “Jerry” Wankum, 82, of Topeka passed away March 11, 2022.   He was born at Bakersfield, CA, the son of Joseph Henry and Ludvina  Wankum.   Jerry grew up at Wasco, California near Bakersfield.  He graduated from high school there and then joined the Army.   He returned to his home and married Joan Bechtel.   In 1972, he moved to Topeka.  ...

Mar 11, 2022

Regina Lee (Tabbert) Tyrell, 62, of Topeka, passed away Friday, March 11, 2022.She was born September 1, 1959, in Lawrence, Kansas, the daughter of Duane and Cara (Goins) Malloy. She graduated from Perry Lecompton High School.Regina was a Senior Legal Assistant at Butler and Associates Law firm in Topeka, Kansas.She adored her two grandchildren, Illayah and Callum and enjoyed nothing...

Mar 11, 2022

Bruce John Wayant passed away on March 11, 2022 after battling cancer. The first part of this obituary was written by Bruce himself, and the second by his family.I was born on March 20, 1961 to John and Marjorie Wayant in Kansas City, MO. I grew up with two older brothers and one younger brother. My childhood was full of...

Mar 9, 2022

Deanna Sue Hays, age 78, of Topeka, passed away Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at her home in Topeka.  Deanna was born May 13, 1943 in Lyndon, Kansas, the daughter of Charles and Leah (Odor) Phelon.  She graduated from Topeka High School in 1961.  She married Henry Hays, Jr. in 1963.  They later divorced, but remained close friends.  She graduated...

Mar 9, 2022

Thelma Jean Tichenor 90, of Topeka, passed away on March 9, 2022.She was born on March 13, 1931 to Arthur and Florence (Milbradt) Griffith in Reading, Kansas.She attended Seaman High School, later receiving her GED. Thelma was a homemaker, raising her children and grandchildren for most of her life. Later in life she earned her certificate in Home Health Care....

Mar 7, 2022

Mary Lou Jackson, age 83, of Topeka, passed away Monday, March 7, 2022 at Plaza West Care Home.  Mary Lou was born March 8, 1938 in Topeka the daughter of John and Molly (Packard) Mann.  She graduated from Seaman High School.  She married Daniel E. Jackson March 1, 1958.  He preceded her in death August 29, 2020.  Mary Lou...

Mar 6, 2022

Robert W. Shirley, age 72, of Topeka, passed away March 6, 2022 at his home in Topeka. Robert was born April 7, 1949 in Holton, KS the son of Robert and Edna (Dunlap) Shirley. He served in the U.S. Marine Corp. He worked as a hotel manager. He was married to Maureen “Rennie” Shirley. He was a longtime member of...

Mar 4, 2022

Gary "Shorty" Ray Hildreth, 84, of Ozawkie, passed away on March 4, 2022 at home surrounded by his family. Gary was born on March 17, 1937 to William and Clara (Clare) Hildreth in Lake City, IA. He graduated from Jolley High School in Iowa in 1955. On June 12, 1955 Gary married Lorraine Hildreth (Anderson) in Jolley, Iowa. They later...

Feb 28, 2022

Frederick J. Abel, age 85, of Topeka, passed away Monday, February 28, 2022 in Topeka.  Fred was born September 29, 1936 in Norfolk, Nebraska the son of Frederick and Rose Mary (Conner) Abel.  Fred served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.   He returned to Topeka and worked at the ATSF Railroad, retiring on September 30, 1996 after...

Feb 28, 2022

James L. Flott, age 81, of Topeka, passed away Monday, February 28, 2022 at Legends at Capital Ridge.  He was born December 10, 1940 in Topeka the son of Orren and Ruby (Neely) Flott.  Jim graduated from Highland Park High School in 1958.  He was active in coaching little league football and basketball.  He also was a football and...

Feb 27, 2022

Janie “Paulette” Broadbent, 75, of Topeka, Kansas died on Sunday, February 27, 2022 at Topeka, KS.   She was born February 24, 1947 in Holcomb, Missouri, the daughter of Herman and Mae “Alfreda” Shultz.

In April of 1999 Larry had the fortunate opportunity of meeting Paulette on the internet, and through contacts on the internet they met for...