In Memory Of
Jean Marie Grabher
1934
2023
Jean Marie Grabher
November 3, 1934 — May 15, 2023
Jean Marie (Powell) Grabher was born November 3, 1934, on her grandfather's farm in rural Russell County Kansas. She was the daughter of Dale Idris and Rosa Lee (Howe) Powell, and sister of older brother Jack and younger sister Mary Lee (Powell) Harris. Her parents and siblings preceded her in death.
Jean Marie graduated from Hays High School in Hays, Kansas in 1952. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas in 1956, Jean Marie served as a missionary in South Korea with the Methodist Church from 1958 to 1963. Upon returning home, she earned a Master's degree in Christian Education from Scarritt College in Nashville, Tennessee and in 1966 was the first woman to graduate with a Master of Divinity from St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri.
Jean Marie married Jerald (Jerry) Grabher on August 28, 1964. Their two daughters, Jasonne and Jocelyn were born while the couple served as missionaries of the United Methodist Church in the Republic of the Philippines from 1966 to 1970. Jean Marie and Jerry divorced in 1990 and he preceded her in death in October 2022.
In her over 30 years with the United Methodist Church, Jean Marie served the Kansas East Conference at numerous churches and in leadership roles including as the first female District Superintendent in Kansas from 1980-86. She was Associate Pastor of Lowman UMC in Topeka, and Pastor at St. Mary's-Emmett, Roeland Park, Parsons Wesley and Hiawatha First from which she retired in 2001.
Upon retiring in 2001, Jean Marie settled at Aldersgate Village in Topeka, Kansas where she lived, cheering on her Kansas City Chiefs, until her death at the age of 88 on May 15, 2023. She is survived by her two daughters, Dr. Jasonne Grabher of Melbourne, Australia, and Jocelyn Elliott of Topeka; her two granddaughters, Lyndi Dixon (Tim) and Caitlyn Botkin (Brent), both of Topeka; two great grandchildren, Kolbee Dixon and Connor Botkin, also of Topeka; as well as nieces and nephews and their families.
A memorial service celebrating Jean Marie's life will be held at 2.00pm on Friday October 13, 2023 at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Topeka. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heifer International (heifer.org). Jean Marie was particularly supportive of their programs devoted to women's empowerment and social capital.
Her family would like to take this opportunity to thank the team at Aldersgate for looking after her so well in the years since her retirement and are also grateful to the staff of Interim Healthcare for their help and support more recently.
To leave a message for her family online, please visit the guestbook below.
Jean Marie graduated from Hays High School in Hays, Kansas in 1952. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas in 1956, Jean Marie served as a missionary in South Korea with the Methodist Church from 1958 to 1963. Upon returning home, she earned a Master's degree in Christian Education from Scarritt College in Nashville, Tennessee and in 1966 was the first woman to graduate with a Master of Divinity from St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri.
Jean Marie married Jerald (Jerry) Grabher on August 28, 1964. Their two daughters, Jasonne and Jocelyn were born while the couple served as missionaries of the United Methodist Church in the Republic of the Philippines from 1966 to 1970. Jean Marie and Jerry divorced in 1990 and he preceded her in death in October 2022.
In her over 30 years with the United Methodist Church, Jean Marie served the Kansas East Conference at numerous churches and in leadership roles including as the first female District Superintendent in Kansas from 1980-86. She was Associate Pastor of Lowman UMC in Topeka, and Pastor at St. Mary's-Emmett, Roeland Park, Parsons Wesley and Hiawatha First from which she retired in 2001.
Upon retiring in 2001, Jean Marie settled at Aldersgate Village in Topeka, Kansas where she lived, cheering on her Kansas City Chiefs, until her death at the age of 88 on May 15, 2023. She is survived by her two daughters, Dr. Jasonne Grabher of Melbourne, Australia, and Jocelyn Elliott of Topeka; her two granddaughters, Lyndi Dixon (Tim) and Caitlyn Botkin (Brent), both of Topeka; two great grandchildren, Kolbee Dixon and Connor Botkin, also of Topeka; as well as nieces and nephews and their families.
A memorial service celebrating Jean Marie's life will be held at 2.00pm on Friday October 13, 2023 at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Topeka. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heifer International (heifer.org). Jean Marie was particularly supportive of their programs devoted to women's empowerment and social capital.
Her family would like to take this opportunity to thank the team at Aldersgate for looking after her so well in the years since her retirement and are also grateful to the staff of Interim Healthcare for their help and support more recently.
To leave a message for her family online, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jean Marie Grabher, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Celebration of Life
Friday, October 13, 2023
Starts at 2:00 pm (Central time)
Michigan Ave
Guestbook
Visits: 12
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