Joan L. Braymen

Joan Louise "Joanie" Braymen, 82, Topeka, died on April 18, 2010. She was born on November 17, 1927 in Mt. Pleasant, IA, the daughter of Clark A. and Helen Van Sweringen Burham. She spent most of her childhood in Shenandoah, IA. She graduated from Shenandoah High School and attended the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA and VanSant School of Business in Omaha, NE.

She married Byron R. "Barney" Braymen on March 21, 1948 in Shenandoah, IA. He survives.

She worked in an office of Iowa State University while Barney attended school. They then traveled and lived several places in Kansas, Missouri and Iowa over the course of two years. They lived in Paola, KS for seven years before moving to Topeka in 1959 when Barney and Henry Meinking started a construction company which later became BRB Contractors, Inc. She worked in that office for about a year in the converted half garage of their home. After that time, she was a homemaker and volunteer for several agencies including KNI, Doorstep, Presbyterian Manor, Hearthstone Retirement Community and many years in the office of ERC. Joanie also volunteered for many years for Topeka Public Schools. She was active for years at Topeka Country Club. She was a member of Countryside United Methodist Church for over 50 years, where she was a past children's coordinator and Sunday school teacher.

Other survivors include her children, Steve Braymen, Topeka, Rick (Teresa) Braymen, Montgomery, TX, Ann (Marty) Schmiedeler, Topeka, and grandchildren Kelsey, Anthony and Perry Schmiedeler of Topeka.

A memorial service will take place Friday, April 23, at 10:00 a.m. at Countryside United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends Thursday, April 22 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. Private inurnment will take place at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Everywoman's Resource Center, 1710 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, KS 66604 or Countryside United Methodist Church, 3221 SW Burlingame Rd, Topeka, KS 66611.