Richard Pfannenstiel

Richard Pfannenstiel, 55, of Topeka Ks, passed away on November 30th at his childhood home surrounded by his loved ones. On October 5, 1965, Richard Duane Pfannenstiel was born to Paul Anthony Pfannenstiel Jr and Sharon Ann Pfannenstiel. He was the second born of eight children. Richard went to elementary school at Lafayette grade school. His jr high years were spent at Holiday Jr high. For high school, he attended Highland Park High School, graduating in 1984. While in high school Richard played tennis and enjoyed his auto shop classes and art classes. In 1989 Richard married his wife Kimberly (Boggs) Pfannenstiel. They were married for 31 years this year. Richard enlisted in Kansas Army National Guard and went to Fort Knox, Kentucky for his Basic training. Then he was sent to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland for his AIT in track vehicle repair. He excelled in weaponry qualifying as marksman and expert. Richard received several accolades for jobs well done while at National Guard annual training every year. Richard completed his 20 year enlistment and retired in 2004. Richard was so proud to serve his country but wished he could have gone to actively fight for our freedoms we all enjoy today! Richard worked a variety of jobs including PLM rail car maintenance, Ohse meat factory, forklift driver at a cold storage facility, Code Compliance for City of Topeka and finally the job he had always wanted, being a trash man for Shawnee County Refuse. He said as a kid he and his friends would follow the trash truck around the neighborhood and it looked like a fun job. He did enjoy the job! Through all these life experiences Richard made many lifelong friends that were still in touch up until his passing. Over the years Richards interests included watching Nascar races, Chiefs football, KU basketball and was an avid gun collector and enthusiast. And most recently enjoyed growing a garden with his wife and making very hot salsa to share with friends and family. Over the years Richard and Kim were pet parents to several dogs that stole their hearts!!! If he had it his way he would have adopted every "old sweet baby" (his exact words) in the shelter to give them a loving home in their old age. Richard was precedded in death by his father Paul Pfannenstiel Jr. and his mother in law DeAnn Boggs. Survivors include his loving wife Kimberly (Boggs) Pfannenstiel, his mother Sharon (Rudolph) Pfannenstiel, and all 7 siblings, Paul Pfannenstiel III (Penny), Lisa Crable (James), Patricia Pfannenstiel, Patrick Pfannenstiel (Nichole), Peter Pfannenstiel, Philip Pfannenstiel, Matthew Pfannenstiel (Amanda). He was uncle and great uncle to several nieces and nephew on both sides of his families. He was a wonderful husband, son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend will be missed greatly!! Richard is being cremated and a memorial BBQ in the spring is being planned. Date and announcement will be found through facebook. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions can be made to Helping Hands Humane Society