Elwaine F. Pomeroy

Elwaine F. Pomeroy, 78, of Topeka, passed away Wednesday, June 29, 2011 surrounded by his loved ones.

He was born June 4, 1933 in Topeka, the son of Charles F. and Ada (Owen) Pomeroy. He graduated from Topeka High School in 1951, Washburn University in 1955, and Magna Cum Laude from Washburn School of Law in 1957.
Elwaine was the senior partner in the law firm of Pomeroy and Pomeroy in Topeka, admitted to practice in front of the United States Supreme Court, and owner of Topeka Escrow Service.

Senator Pomeroy served for 16 sessions in the Kansas State Senate, with four years as chair of the Local Government Committee and eight years chairing the Senate Judiciary Committee. His dedication to public service led him to read every word in every bill, and he was recognized as "Proofreader of the Senate" by his colleagues. He was first appointed to the National Uniform Law Commission in 1979 and continuously appointed by both Republican and Democrat governors until 2007 when he was awarded lifetime status. In 1984, he was appointed as chair of the Kansas Parole Board, serving until 1990, at which time he returned to his full time private practice. He continued practicing many fields of law until his death, including being a lobbyist for various groups, such as the American Motion Picture Association.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he was a current member of the church council and held various positions of leadership over the years. He was a member of the Topeka Bar Association, Kansas Bar Association, American Bar Association, Topeka Knife and Fork Club, Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Arab Shrine, Order of the Eastern Star, Shawnee Community Mental Health Corporation, Association of Paroling Authorities International, American Correctional Association, Kansas Correctional Association, Kansas Council on Crime and Delinquency, Breakfast Optimist Club, Topeka Civitan Club, and Shawnee County Republican Central Committee.

Elwaine married his high school sweetheart, Joanne C. Bunge on September 30, 1950. They spent an inseparable loving marriage of over 59 years before she preceded him in death on February 26, 2010. Survivors include sons, Duane (Deborah) Pomeroy, Topeka, Carl (Deborah) Pomeroy, Tulsa, OK; seven grandchildren, Shane (Janalyn) Pomeroy, Walter (Rebecca) Evans, Troy Pomeroy, Brandon Pomeroy, Matthew (Ashley) Pomeroy, Tyler Pomeroy, and Tessa Pomeroy; three great-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; and a brother, Charles (Lurene) Pomeroy, Topeka. Elwaine was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Janella Evans, and a grandson, Alex Evans; siblings, Emerson Pomeroy, Frances Ada Pomeroy, and Mary Pomeroy McNish. During WW II, he was too young to serve in the military with his two older brothers, but contributed to the war effort by selling War Bonds and earned the Top War Bond Salesman Award from the Boy Scouts of America.

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 2, 2011 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 731 SW Buchanan, Topeka, KS 66606. Private family inurnment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Topeka. Elwaine will lie in state at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Ave., Topeka where the family will receive friends from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church.