Helen Katherine Deweese

Manhattan- Helen Katherine DeWeese, 89, a long time resident of Topeka died Sunday, January 28, 2007 in Manhattan, Kansas. The daughter of Robert McKinley and Angeline Mary Schiltz Flanagan, she was born April 27, 1917 in Kansas City, Missouri and was the oldest of eleven children. She attended several schools in the United States and Canada. During her senior year at Central High School in Kansas City, she met her future husband, Ronald Oliver DeWeese. They were united in marriage on April 8, 1937. Mrs. DeWeese worked at the Crowley-Reuter Stationary Store in Kansas City as a secretary until the birth of her first child. When her children entered junior high school, she was employed as the first full time elementary school secretary in the Topeka public school system. After one year in that position, Mrs. DeWeese studied to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Washburn University, finishing in three years and graduating with honors. She later earned a Master’s Degree in education from Washburn. She taught elementary school in the Topeka district for 27 years. After her retirement, she taught English in the International House at Washburn University. Mrs. DeWeese and her husband spent eleven years taking long RV trips through the United States and Canada. Mrs. DeWeese’s husband, Ronald Oliver DeWeese, preceded her in death by 18 days. Mr. and Mrs. DeWeese were married for 69 years. Her parents, one brother and four sisters also preceded Mrs. DeWeese in death. Survivors include a son, Ronald Robert DeWeese of Council Grove, Kansas, and a daughter, Kathleen Helen Sinzeheimer of Overland Park, Kansas. Six granddaughters and eight great-grandchildren also survive her. Other survivors include two brothers, John Flanagan and James Flanagan of Temple, Texas and three sisters, Mary Alice Cummins of San Antonio, Texas, Nancy Carlton of Temple, Texas, and Patty Zoch of Austin, Texas. Memorials may be made to the Meadowlark Hills Foundation of Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community in Manhattan, and may be left in care of Stewart Funeral Home P.O. Box 48, Wamego, 66547.