In Memory Of
James Leonard Buhrle
1939
2020
James Leonard Buhrle
January 5, 1939 — November 16, 2020
James Leonard Buhrle, 81, of Topeka, passed away Monday, November 16, 2020.
He was born January 5, 1939 in his grandfather's limestone house on a wheat farm in North Central Kansas near the small town of Waldo, Kansas, the son of Helen Martha (Coles) and Henry Buhrle. He attended elementary school at Waldo and later when his parents moved to Russell, Kansas he graduated from Russell High School.
Jim, as he was always known, met and later married Darlene Mae Murphy on May 4, 1957 in Russell. Later that year the newlyweds moved to Topeka when he secured a job in the accounting department of The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. To this marriage union were born three children; Monty, Terri and Barbara. Although he had many positions with the railroad he remained in Topeka for his lifetime except for a short two-year period (1968-1970) when the company transferred him to Los Angeles, California. During his career he was required to travel a great deal on company business. In addition to company travel, Jim and his wife loved to travel for enjoyment and during the sixty-plus years of their marriage traveled to most of the states in the country as well as Mexico and Canada.
He retired from the railroad in 1989 and took up a self-employed career of income tax preparation only during tax season. He pursued a hobby of genealogy and documented many, many generations of families back to their beginnings in Europe and Scandinavia. He enjoyed many kinds of sports as a spectator, particularly basketball, baseball and football.
Jim was preceded in death by his son, Monty in 1997; his wife, Darlene in 2018; three brothers, Bobby in 1943, Donald in 1985 and Jerold in 2008.
Survivors include his two daughters, Terri Williams and Barbara Repp of Topeka; two grandchildren, Jennika Williams of Topeka and Trevor Buhrle of Paris, TX; one brother, Steve Buhrle of Portland, OR and many nephews, nieces, cousins and a host of friends.
Jim will lie in state from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 23, 2020 at Mount Hope Cemetery Chapel, 4700 SW 17th Street, Topeka, KS 66604. A funeral ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 23, 2020 at Mount Hope Cemetery Chapel. Interment will follow. Penwell-Gabel Cremations, Funerals and Receptions, 1321 SW 10th Ave., Topeka, KS 66604 is assisting the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society – Topeka, 1315 SW Arrowhead Road, Topeka, KS, 66604.
To leave a message of condolence for Jim's family, or to share a special memory of Jim, visit the guestbook below.
He was born January 5, 1939 in his grandfather's limestone house on a wheat farm in North Central Kansas near the small town of Waldo, Kansas, the son of Helen Martha (Coles) and Henry Buhrle. He attended elementary school at Waldo and later when his parents moved to Russell, Kansas he graduated from Russell High School.
Jim, as he was always known, met and later married Darlene Mae Murphy on May 4, 1957 in Russell. Later that year the newlyweds moved to Topeka when he secured a job in the accounting department of The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. To this marriage union were born three children; Monty, Terri and Barbara. Although he had many positions with the railroad he remained in Topeka for his lifetime except for a short two-year period (1968-1970) when the company transferred him to Los Angeles, California. During his career he was required to travel a great deal on company business. In addition to company travel, Jim and his wife loved to travel for enjoyment and during the sixty-plus years of their marriage traveled to most of the states in the country as well as Mexico and Canada.
He retired from the railroad in 1989 and took up a self-employed career of income tax preparation only during tax season. He pursued a hobby of genealogy and documented many, many generations of families back to their beginnings in Europe and Scandinavia. He enjoyed many kinds of sports as a spectator, particularly basketball, baseball and football.
Jim was preceded in death by his son, Monty in 1997; his wife, Darlene in 2018; three brothers, Bobby in 1943, Donald in 1985 and Jerold in 2008.
Survivors include his two daughters, Terri Williams and Barbara Repp of Topeka; two grandchildren, Jennika Williams of Topeka and Trevor Buhrle of Paris, TX; one brother, Steve Buhrle of Portland, OR and many nephews, nieces, cousins and a host of friends.
Jim will lie in state from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 23, 2020 at Mount Hope Cemetery Chapel, 4700 SW 17th Street, Topeka, KS 66604. A funeral ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 23, 2020 at Mount Hope Cemetery Chapel. Interment will follow. Penwell-Gabel Cremations, Funerals and Receptions, 1321 SW 10th Ave., Topeka, KS 66604 is assisting the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society – Topeka, 1315 SW Arrowhead Road, Topeka, KS, 66604.
To leave a message of condolence for Jim's family, or to share a special memory of Jim, visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Leonard Buhrle, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Monday, November 23, 2020
9:00 - 10:00 am (Central time)
Mount Hope
Service
Monday, November 23, 2020
Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)
Mount Hope
Guestbook
Visits: 3
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