Frances Braun

Marian Frances Braun, 86, of Topeka, passed away on Friday, February 17, 2012 at Atria Hearthstone. She was born on August 27, 1925 in Emporia, Kansas, the daughter of James T. and Eva S. (King) Lyons.

Frances graduated from Emporia High School and received her Bachelor's degree from College of Emporia in 1947. She taught in Cullison and Reading, Kansas. She married Glenn Braun on June 27, 1948 in Ottawa, Kansas. They moved to Leavenworth before moving to Topeka in 1954. Frances then stayed home to raise their three children. She returned to teaching at Hoyt in 1964. Several years later she began employment with Topeka Public Schools as a Spanish teacher. While teaching and raising her children, Frances attended Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia and attained her Master's degree in Foreign Language in 1970. She retired after 30 years of teaching. Frances continued using her Spanish by tutoring and volunteering at Topeka Lutheran School. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church where she was involved in Eve and Ruth Circles and Topeka Area Retired School Personnel.

Frances is survived by her three children, Stephen C. Braun, Janice (Lee) Crawford, both of Topeka, and Carolyn (Kirk) Duncan of Overland Park, KS; five grandchildren, Nicholas and Elaine Crawford of Topeka, Mackenzie (Paige) Crawford of Lawrence, Ryan Duncan of Baltimore, MD and Ben Duncan of Mountain View, CA; her brother, Richard (Della) Lyons of Emporia, KS and sister-in-law, Lois Vowels of Atchison, KS. She was preceded in death by her husband on December 10, 2002.

A funeral ceremony will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at Faith Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in the Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm on Wednesday, February 22 at the Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, 1716 SW Gage Blvd, Topeka, KS 66604 or Topeka Lutheran School Foundation, Inc., 1119 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, KS 66604.