June Kathleen Pearl Stapleton Hill Windscheffel

June Kathleen Pearl Stapleton Hill Windscheffel, 93, Topeka, passed away Friday, March 5, 2021.

She was born June 22, 1927, in Sabetha, Kansas, the daughter of Del Stapleton and Pearl Berkley Stapleton. Her mother and father divorced when she was 5. After the divorce, she stayed with her mother, Pearl Berkley, who worked as a sales clerk at Middlebrook's Golden Rule Store in Hiawatha to support her family.

She graduated from Hiawatha High School in 1945 and attended Clark School of Business in Topeka, as well as Highland Jr. College and Washburn University.

She was an incredibly gifted musically, and sang with Sammy's Orchestra in Hiawatha and Summer Stock Company. She enjoyed attending Topeka Symphony shows as well as the opera in Kansas City. She also enjoyed the Topeka Jazz Workshop.
June worked as secretary for the Kansas Turnpike Authority, being the first female to be employed by the KTA. She also worked as secretary for the state legislature.

She has been involved on boards of numerous organizations including Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Kansas Press Women, Topeka Opera Society Concert Association, YWCA, State Board of Mortuary Arts, Kansas Turnpike Authority, and has been a volunteer at historic Ward-Meade Park. She was a Cub Scout den mother, taking her troop all over north central Kansas on numerous field trips.

She served as president of the Shawnee County Historical Society and Ride Into History. She chaired the Factual Story Contest for Native Sons and Daughters. She assisted with KTWU fundraising events. June helped produce a videotape of all former living Kansas first ladies for retrospective with WIBW-TV for the Historical Society archives. She was elected to the Kansas Historical Foundation Board of Directors in 1975; she was elected to the executive committee in 1982 and served as president in 1984, becoming the second woman to have that position.

She served as a member of the First United Methodist Church, Keystone Class, Shawnee Choral Society, the League of Women Voters, Gold City Forum, Chapter AJ of PEO Sisterhood, Minerva Study Club, Topeka Woman's Club, Civic Music Club, Kansas Corral of Westerners, the Civil War Roundtable, and ambassador of Topeka Citizens Academy.

June was recognized as Patron of Kansas Press Women in 1976. In 2000, she was honored as a Distinguished Kansan by the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas. She served as executive director of the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas for 30 years. She was the recipient of the Zonta Club Woman of the Year award in 2001, Outstanding Philanthropist in 2005, and in 2013 she was named the Woman of Distinction for the Career Chapter of the American Business Women's Association, where they described her as a "trail blazer, avid historian and a joyful leader".

She was known to have the best witch cackle and for her love of Mr. Goodbar candy bars. Her impact and dedication as a mother, friend, and active member of her community and state is immeasurable and she will be greatly missed by so many. As quoted in the Topeka Capital Journal "I have had so many wonderful friends throughout the years. I'm very grateful. I have had a full life."

June is survived by her son, Lawrence Jay "Buzz" Hill; two step-children, Jan Arno Windscheffel and Joan Windscheffel Sidles; three grandchildren, Sheryl, Cindy, and Ross; and three great-grandchildren, Ryan, Jack, and Brenna.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arno Windscheffel in 1995 and great-grandson, Mark in 2015.

Graveside services will be 1pm Saturday, March 13, 2021 at Memorial Park Cemetery, 3616 SW 6th Ave, Topeka. A visitation will be held from 6-8pm Friday, March 12, 2021 at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, 1321 SW 10th Ave, Topeka.

Memorial contributions may be made to YWCA of NE Kansas, 225 SW 12th St, Topeka, Kansas 66612 or donate online at www.ywcaneks.org.

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