Obituaries
Nathaniel J Allen
Jan 13, 2021
Nathaniel "Nate" Allen, 45, went to be with his Savior on January 1, 2021. He was born on February 23, 1975 to Donald and Deborah Allen.
Nate met a shy, quiet woman and decided that her life should be filled with laughter, garage sales, spaghetti dinners and amazing in-laws, so he married her. He was united in...
Pamela M. Luttjohann
Jan 13, 2021
Pamela (Pam) M. Luttjohann, 74 of Topeka passed away Wednesday morning, January 13, 2021 at her home in Topeka. Pam was born September, 10, 1946, in Bremerton, WA., the daughter of Marshall and Caroline Rice. Her parents preceded her in death. She married Terry Luttjohann on March 17, 1972 in Topeka.
Pam retired from Southwestern Bell, AT&T....
Ronald L. Callahan
Jan 11, 2021
Uncle Ron was a fun loving, ornery guy that loved to tease his many nieces. He would go fishing at the Cottonwood River with Steve, a best friend. They would bring home a stringer full of catfish. They would chase us girls with the fish, then the guts as they cleaned them. Then if we were not grossed out...
James Rodney Paulsen
Jan 8, 2021
James (Jim) Rodney Paulsen, age 80, died on December 31st, 2020 after a brief illness. He was born in Fredonia, Kansas on September 21st, 1940 to Harry and Lillie (Olsen) Paulsen. Jim was united in marriage to Janet Sue Hedrick on March 25th, 1961 at the Methodist Church in Fredonia. He received a Bachelor's Degree of Education and Math...
Mary Christena Ellis
Jan 8, 2021
Mary Christena Ellis (66) was a fun spirt, full of life & knew how to light up a room. She loved playing games like dominos, reading, playing with her dogs, camping and fishing. She graduated from Topeka High in 1972 and then attended Vo-Tech and received her accounting certificate. Her last employer was Stormont Vail until 2002. She and...
Shirley Gutsch
Jan 6, 2021
Shirley Gutsch, devoted wife, mother, grandma, sister, aunt, teacher, and friend passed peacefully on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at The Midland Care Hospice House. She was 84.
Shirley June Smithson was born on April 30, 1936, the daughter of Wayne and Marvella (Burns) Smithson. She grew up on a farm near Delavan, Kansas and graduated from Wilsey...
Mary Elizabeth Price
Jan 6, 2021
Mary Elizabeth Price passed away at home Tues Dec. 29th. She was born to Henry and Laverna Lane. She was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Sept. 4th 1953. She married James L Price July 18th 1970. They have four children together. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Kathy Crook, She is survived by her...
John “Gumby” Ward
Jan 6, 2021
John "Gumby" Ward, age 77 of Auburn, passed away on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.
He was born on May 19, 1943 in Warsaw, NY. He was an over the road trucker for 55
years.
John is survived by his wife, Donna of 20 years. He is also survived by his sister Rose
...Jack E. Rees
Jan 4, 2021
Jack E. Rees, 77, died at his home December 31, 2020. He was born June 1, 1943 in Topeka, Kans.
Jack graduated from Perry High School in 1961, where he played football and basketball and was Homecoming Candidate his senior year. Jack fell in love with Marilyn J. Ross in high school, and they were married in...
Deborah Jean Lundin Spencer
Jan 4, 2021
Deb passed away December 30, 2020 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born in Topeka, Kansas September 10, 1954 to parents Ray Plunk, and Peggy Myrick- Plunk. She was preceded in death by her father, and Stepfather. She attended Highland Park Highschool and graduated from Sliver Lake Highschool. She married Darrell Spencer. They Had three children....
Charles Henry Martin
Jan 3, 2021
Charles Henry Martin, Chuck, 84, passed away Sunday, January 3, 2021, in his home, surrounded by family.
He was born August 25, 1936, in Seneca, to John and Merwina Martin, who preceded him in death. He had 9 siblings.
His wife of 62 years, Beverly Martin, preceded him in death; He was survived by eight...
Michael “Mike” Mccloud
Jan 1, 2021
Michael "Mike" McCloud passed away January 1, 2021 after a 2 1/2 year battle with pancreatic cancer. Mike was born November 23, 1965 in Emmetsburg, Iowa to Larry and Judy McCloud. Mike grew up in Union, Iowa with his brother and sisters. Mike graduated from Union-Whitten High School. Mike received his Associate of Arts degree from Marshall County Community...
Janet Sue Paulsen
Jan 1, 2021
Janet Sue Paulsen, age 80, died January 1st, 2021 in Topeka, Kansas following a brief illness. She was born in Neodesha, Kansas, and was raised in Fredonia, Kansas. She was the daughter of Hurston and Helen (Fink) Hedrick. Janet was a graduate of the Fredonia High School, Class of 1958, and received a Bachelor's Degree of Education from Kansas...
Laurie Ann Walden Panovich
Dec 31, 2020
Laurie Ann Walden Panovich, loving daughter, devoted wife, dedicated full time public servant and part time angel passed away December 23rd after a nearly two-month battle with COVID-19
She was born in Urbana, New York December 29th, 1966, and leaves behind a loving family doing their best to honor her wishes and not grieve her death but...
Bobby Joe Wright
Dec 19, 2020
Bobby Joe Wright was born 28 June 1957 and passed away on 15 December 2020.
Bobby grew up in Burlington, Lyndon and Topeka,Kansas. He graduated from Highland Park High School in 1976. Bobby worked for Baileys Moving and Storage for 20 years then moved on to Kansas Van and Storage for the remainder of his life.
...Janet Beseau
Dec 18, 2020
Janet passed away Sat. Dec. 12, 2020 surrounded by family.
She was born in Chanute Ks.on Jan 23, 1936. She married Dean Harris and moved to Topeka to raise their family (later divorced). Janet retired from WIBW in 1998 after 23 yrs.
In 1989 she married Jim Beseau, they retired to Grove, Ok and traveled...
Edith M. “Butch” Morris
Dec 17, 2020
Edith M. "Butch" (Vervynck) Morris, 82, of Topeka passed away Wednesday, December 17, 2020 at Midland Hospice House. Butch was born May 22, 1938, in Burns, KS, the daughter of John M. and Edna (Hayden) Vervynck.
Butch was one of 3 children and graduated from Kinsley High School. Upon graduation she moved to Topeka and began work...
Robert Dale Mcmanes
Dec 15, 2020
At the tender age of 10, Bob began writing poetry. Most of his early poems were about his mother, whom he dearly loved. He continued writing poetry throughout his life and had 7 books of his poetry published, as well as having numerous poems published in literary magazines.
Bob and Tamela Mooney met online in 1997 through...
Anna “Annie” M. Whitesell
Dec 14, 2020
Anna "Annie" M. Whitesell, 82 of Scranton, Kansas Passed away peacefully on Monday December 14, 2020 at Midland Care, Topeka, Kansas after a battle with Cancer. She was born on October 27, 1938 in Seneca Ks, daughter of John and Merwina (Levings) Martin.
She married Carl "Gene" Whitesell in Topeka, Kansas on February 15, 1958. They were...
Brent Andrew Nothern
Dec 14, 2020
Brent Andrew Nothern, 56, died unexpectedly December 14, 2020. He was born June 5, 1964 in Topeka, the son of Marianna and Austin Nothern. He attended Topeka Public Schools, the University of Oregon, and was a graduate of Washburn University. He later earned a Masters Degree in Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, Carpinteria, California. He worked for a number...
About Us
Midwest Cremation shares a collection of obituaries for Topeka and Shawnee County, Kansas. With services throughout Shawnee County that are updated regularly. Find local Topeka obituaries and join us in celebrating lives and honoring their memories and legacies.
Recent obituaries for Topeka, Kansas.
Subscribe
Subscribe to get alerts on new obituaries

A Year of Grief Support
Sign up for one year of weekly grief messages designed to provide strength and comfort during this challenging time.