James P. Buchele

JUDGE JAMES P. BUCHELE

Judge James Paul Buchele, 61, Topeka, died Thursday, May 29, 2003 at Midland Hospice House.
He was born Sept. 25, 1941 in Cedar Vale, the son of Paul and Helen Fettig Buchele.
He graduated from Cedar Vale High School, received a BS of Agricultural Economics from
Kansas State University in 1962, a Juris Doctorate from Washburn University in 1966, and a
Master in Judicial Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1988.
Judge Buchele served as a State Representative in the Kansas Legislature for 4 terms, from 1965
to 1972. From 1966 to 1975, he was in private law practice in Topeka, and from 1970-1972, he
served as Topeka City Attorney. He served as the Administrative Assistant for Congresswoman
Martha Keys from 1975-1977. In 1977, he was appointed by President Jimmy Carter, as United
States Attorney, District of Kansas, where he served until 1981. He became a District Judge in
1981, and served until his retirement in October, 1999. Since retirement, he sat as a Senior Judge
on the Kansas Court of Appeals, and has served as a Mediator/Arbitrator and was a partner of
Associates in Dispute Resolution.
He was admitted to practice in the Kansas Supreme Court, US District Court, District of Kansas,
US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. He was a member of
the American and Kansas Bar Assns, American Trial Lawyers Assn, Kansas District Judges Assn,
American Judicature Society, and was a Kansas Bar Foundation Fellow.
He was a member of Grace Episcopal Cathedral, and served as President in 2002 of the Topeka
South Rotary Club. He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity at Kansas State
University and the Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity at Washburn University. He was past-president of
Topeka Civic Theatre, Thunderbolt Track Club, and Topeka Ballet.
He married Bonnie Cadwalader on Dec. 28, 1965. They divorced. He married Paula Norden on
Oct. 3, 1998 in Topeka. She survives. Other survivors include his mother, Helen Buchele of
Topeka; daughter, Amy Buchele-Ash and her husband Gregory Ash of Lawrence; son, Brad Buchele, Lake Waukomis, MO; two
step-daughters, Krista Norden, West Chester, PA and Jaelle Norden, Topeka; sister, Verona
Buchele, Raytown, MO; brother, Kenneth Buchele, Emporia; granddaughter, Isabel Ash,
Lawrence.
Cremation is planned. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am Tuesday at Grace Episcopal
Cathedral. Private inurnment will be at a later date in Ozro Cemetery, Hewins, Kansas. The
family requests no flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kansas State University
Foundation, 2323 Anderson Ave., Suite 500, Manhattan, or to the Washburn University School
of Law, 1700 SW College Ave., Topeka 66621.
Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel is in charge of arrangements.