In Memory Of
Sylvia Palenske
1940
2019
Sylvia Palenske
August 6, 1940 — October 22, 2019
Sylvia Eugenia Palenske, 79, Alma, Kansas, loving wife, mother, sister and grandmother, passed away in Topeka, Kansas, on October 22, 2019.
Sylvia was born on August 6, 1940 in Hardin, Missouri to William A.H. and Alvina C. (Lutz) Witte. She was baptized on March 23, 1941 at the family home near Hardin, MO and confirmed into the Christian Faith at Hope Lutheran Church in Topeka on April 14, 1957. She graduated from Disney School, a one room schoolhouse, in 1954 and Berryton High School in 1958. Sylvia attended Washburn University and The University of Kansas.
Sylvia grew up and helped her daddy on the family farm where she learned to drive a tractor at the age of 5. She was the youngest of five sisters, all active in the Riverside 4-H Club.
She was employed by The State of Kansas, Topeka Public Library, Pottawatomie-Wabaunsee County Regional Library and the Wabaunsee County Appraiser's Office, where she retired in January 2001.
Sylvia married Marvin Fred Palenske at St. John's Lutheran Church in Topeka, Kansas by the Rev. J. G. Jacobsen on June 16, 1963. They were married for 36 years until Marvin's passing on August 25, 1999.
Sylvia and Marvin lived in Topeka for 15 years until moving to Alma in 1978. While in Topeka, Sylvia, with her family, delivered The Topeka Capital-Journal for six years. She stayed home and cared for her children until they started school. Sylvia was a very proud and supportive mother. She would travel to and attend her children's music and sporting events. As a former 4-H member, she encouraged and assisted her children in their various 4-H activities and projects. She was very proud to attend the college graduations of all her children.
She assisted her husband in obtaining a grant to start the Wabaunsee County District #3 Ambulance Service. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, knitting and crocheting for her family and instilling these activities in her children. She also enjoyed playing her favorite song, Star of The East, on the piano. She absolutely loved baking cookies from scratch with her grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, her granddaughter, Chelsea Perez and her sister, Mildred Doud.
She is survived by her children, Denise (Armando) Ybarra, Austin, TX; Danette (Jim) Chamberlin, Georgetown, TX; Jennifer (John) Perez, Topeka, KS; Jared Palenske, Olathe, KS and Nicole (Erik) Ladner, Ankeny, IA; sisters, Darlene Holliday, Albuquerque, NM; Wanda Rone, Richmond, MO and Shirley Weideman, Berryton, KS; sister-in-law, Jeanie Palenske, Alma, KS; grandchildren, Alexis Hernandez, Brandon, Zachary and Ashleigh Ybarra, Riley Fonseca, Madison Perez, Kayla Palenske, Alex, William and Nathan Ladner.
Visitation will be held at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, on Sunday October 27, 2019 from 2pm to 4pm. Funeral services will be held at St. John Lutheran Church, 218 W 2nd Street, Alma, Kansas at 11am on Monday October 28, 2019. Burial to follow at St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Alma.
To share your memories of Sylvia or leave a special condolence message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
Sylvia was born on August 6, 1940 in Hardin, Missouri to William A.H. and Alvina C. (Lutz) Witte. She was baptized on March 23, 1941 at the family home near Hardin, MO and confirmed into the Christian Faith at Hope Lutheran Church in Topeka on April 14, 1957. She graduated from Disney School, a one room schoolhouse, in 1954 and Berryton High School in 1958. Sylvia attended Washburn University and The University of Kansas.
Sylvia grew up and helped her daddy on the family farm where she learned to drive a tractor at the age of 5. She was the youngest of five sisters, all active in the Riverside 4-H Club.
She was employed by The State of Kansas, Topeka Public Library, Pottawatomie-Wabaunsee County Regional Library and the Wabaunsee County Appraiser's Office, where she retired in January 2001.
Sylvia married Marvin Fred Palenske at St. John's Lutheran Church in Topeka, Kansas by the Rev. J. G. Jacobsen on June 16, 1963. They were married for 36 years until Marvin's passing on August 25, 1999.
Sylvia and Marvin lived in Topeka for 15 years until moving to Alma in 1978. While in Topeka, Sylvia, with her family, delivered The Topeka Capital-Journal for six years. She stayed home and cared for her children until they started school. Sylvia was a very proud and supportive mother. She would travel to and attend her children's music and sporting events. As a former 4-H member, she encouraged and assisted her children in their various 4-H activities and projects. She was very proud to attend the college graduations of all her children.
She assisted her husband in obtaining a grant to start the Wabaunsee County District #3 Ambulance Service. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, knitting and crocheting for her family and instilling these activities in her children. She also enjoyed playing her favorite song, Star of The East, on the piano. She absolutely loved baking cookies from scratch with her grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, her granddaughter, Chelsea Perez and her sister, Mildred Doud.
She is survived by her children, Denise (Armando) Ybarra, Austin, TX; Danette (Jim) Chamberlin, Georgetown, TX; Jennifer (John) Perez, Topeka, KS; Jared Palenske, Olathe, KS and Nicole (Erik) Ladner, Ankeny, IA; sisters, Darlene Holliday, Albuquerque, NM; Wanda Rone, Richmond, MO and Shirley Weideman, Berryton, KS; sister-in-law, Jeanie Palenske, Alma, KS; grandchildren, Alexis Hernandez, Brandon, Zachary and Ashleigh Ybarra, Riley Fonseca, Madison Perez, Kayla Palenske, Alex, William and Nathan Ladner.
Visitation will be held at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, on Sunday October 27, 2019 from 2pm to 4pm. Funeral services will be held at St. John Lutheran Church, 218 W 2nd Street, Alma, Kansas at 11am on Monday October 28, 2019. Burial to follow at St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Alma.
To share your memories of Sylvia or leave a special condolence message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Sylvia Palenske, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Sunday, October 27, 2019
2:00 - 4:00 pm (Central time)
Penwell-Gabel - Mid-Town Chapel
Service
Monday, October 28, 2019
Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)
St. John Lutheran Church
Guestbook
Visits: 5
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