Joan Arlene Whittenburg

Joan Arlene Whittenburg, 88, a resident of Alma Manor, went home to be with her Lord and her loved ones, Tuesday, April 19, 2011. She was born March 21, 1923 in McFarland, KS the daughter of Halsey and Eva Frances (Cox) Whittenburg. She graduated from Alma High School in May of 1941 before moving to Los Angeles, CA where she was united in marriage to Robert F. Stuewe in June of 1941. They were instrumental in founding Mill Creek Baptist Church at McFarland, KS in 1954. They later divorced in 1966. Joan worked as a Medical-Aid nurse from 1964 until her retirement in 2000. After retirement she loved working at KNI in Topeka, KS until her first stroke in 2002. While Joan lived in Austin, TX, she was on the “Paris Café” softball team which was the runner-up in the 1947 state championship. In 1948 the team won the Texas state championship, with Joan being named the Texas All-State 3rd baseman. She was offered a position as a singer with one of the famous Big Bands of the late 1940’s but turned it down to raise her family. She enjoyed the outdoors, was a very good water skier and a terrific cook. She dearly loved music, singing at weddings, funerals, church, and singing “Happy Birthday” to other Alma Manor residents. Survivors include her son, Ronald Stuewe and his wife Patricia, of Alma, KS; her daughter, Bobbie Jo Alberty and her husband Bill, of Inola, OK; a son-in-law, Steve Deiter, of Sabetha, KS; a sister, June Redburn, Spring Hill, TN; 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Robin Deiter, and a grandson, Brant Lee “Teensy” Alberty. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 23 at Mill Creek Baptist Church of McFarland. Burial will be in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery of Topeka. She will lie in-state beginning at 1:00 p.m. Friday at Stewart Funeral Home of Alma, where family will greet friends from 5:00 p.m – 7:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Grace Hospice or Mill Creek Baptist Church and may be left in care of Stewart Funeral Home of Alma, PO Box 126, 66401.