Lee Theodore Palenske

Lee Theodore Palenske, 91, of Alma, Kansas, passed away Sunday, January 8, 2012 at the Alma Manor, in Alma, Kansas. Lee was born on February 28, 1920 on the family farm near McFarland, Kansas. He was the son of Henry W. and Sophia (Herren) Palenske. Lee attended school in the rural McFarland area. On August 1, 1941, Lee married Frances Louise Lonsinger in Alma, Kansas. She preceded him in death in 2009. During the early years of their marriage, Lee and Frances farmed in the Alma area. In 1956, Lee became a mechanic for International Harvester Company in Beaumont, Texas. In the early 60’s, Lee transferred to the International Harvester store in Topeka, KS, where he continued to work until his retirement in the late 1970’s. After Lee’s retirement, Lee and Frances returned to their farm in Alma and Lee continued to work as a contract baler repairman. Lee was well known in Topeka and Alma areas as the man to call when it came to fixing square balers. Lee was a member of the Peace United Church of Christ in Alma. He enjoyed hunting, but his greatest passion was fishing. Mr. Palenske is survived by his brother Roy Palenske and wife Edna of Alma; a nephew Ray Palenske and wife Trudy of Lawrence, Kansas; six brothers-in-law: Delbert Lonsinger, Harold Lonsinger, Robert Lonsinger and wife Darlene, Lawrence Lonsinger and wife Carolyn, Jack Lonsinger, and Ellis Lonsinger and wife Carolyn; three sisters-in-law: Judith Tipton and husband Frank, Anne Lichtenhan and husband Bob, and Virginia Dietrich. Lee was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Frances, and a nephew Gary Palenske. Funeral services for Lee will be at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, January 12, 2012, at Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego. Burial will follow in the Wamego City Cemetery. Mr. Palenske will lie-in-state beginning at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, with family greeting friends during a visitation from 12:00 p.m. until service time. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Alma Manor Nursing Center, and may be left in care of the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego, PO Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547.