Frances Louise Palenske

Frances Louise Palenske, 86, of Wamego, KS and formerly of Alma, KS, passed away Sunday, June 14, 2009 at the Valley Vista Good Samaritan Center of Wamego. Frances was born November 6, 1922 on her family farm near Wamego, the daughter of Louis L and Bessie C. (Snodgrass) Lonsinger. She attended rural grade school at the Rock School, east of Wamego, and graduated from Wamego High School in 1940. On August 1, 1941, Frances married Lee T. Palenske in Alma. He survives. Following marriage, she worked as a bookkeeper for several businesses, including a truck dealership in Topeka for several years, before she and Lee moved to their farm in Wabaunsee County. Frances then worked at the insurance office located in the First National Bank of Alma from 1978 until retiring in 1990. She was a member of the Peace United Church of Christ of Alma, and was a very active member of the Wabaunsee County Extension Homemakers, which she served on the county board for several years. Frances loved to quilt, sew, and garden, and was an excellent cook and seamstress. Survivors include her husband Lee Palenske, of Wamego, KS; six brothers, Delbert Lonsinger, of Manhattan, KS, Harold Lonsinger, of Alton, KS, Robert Lonsinger and his wife Darlene, of Bakersfield, CA, Lawrence Lonsinger and wife Carolyn, of Bakersfield, CA, Jack Lonsinger and his wife Deborah, of Liberty, MO, Ellis Lonsinger and his wife Carolyn, of Osborne, KS; three sisters, Judith Tipton and her husband Frank, of Hillsboro, TX, Anne Lichtenhan and husband Robert, of Warrensburg, MO, and Virginia Dietrich, of Topeka, KS; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother, Donald A. Lonsinger in 1934. Funeral services for Mrs. Palenske will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 18, 2009 at the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego, with the Rev. John Austin officiating. Burial will follow in the Wamego City Cemetery. She will lie in-state at the Stewart Funeral Home beginning at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, where the family will greet friends during a visitation from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. In Lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society and may be left in care of the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego, P.O. Box 48, 66547.