Colleen Schmanke

Phyllis “Colleen” Schmanke, 83, of Alma and McFarland, Kansas, died Thursday, February 4, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Society in Wamego. Colleen was born on April 4, 1937, in Kinsley, Kansas, the daughter of Quincy and Faye Mallow Taylor. She attended grade school and graduated in 1955 from Wichita North High School. She then attended Wichita University for one year. Colleen married Harvey Lee Schmanke on February 9, 1957, in Wichita. He preceded her in death on July 2, 1981. Colleen was a homemaker and active partner in the family farm operation. In 1971, she started working at Derby Food Center on the Kansas State University Campus and was a food service supervisor for thirty-five years. She was involved in the local EHU County Extension, Young Farmers, and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in McFarland. Colleen was known for her cooking, but especially her bread baking. She won numerous awards at the local Wabaunsee County and Mid America fairs. Colleen also was an accomplished seamstress. She loved her many pets, especially her cats. Colleen was a serious K-State sports fan and on many opportunities cooked meals for the teams. However, what was held close to her heart was her family. Colleen is survived by her two children; Pamela Richardson (Mark), Chariton, Iowa, and Phil Schmanke (Cindy), Manhattan; her grandchildren, Matt Cox (Natalie), Manhattan, Sara Law (Cody), Waterloo, Iowa, Jennifer Brown (Clint), Manhattan, and Matthew Richardson (Chelsea), Lincoln, Nebraska; her great-grandchildren, Breckyn, Thomas, Henry and Palmer; her sister, Connie Walter (Rick), McFarland, and her sister-in-law, Margaret Davies, Riley. Colleen was also preceded in death by her parents and her infant daughter, Janet Denise. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, February 10, 2021, at St. John Lutheran Church in Alma. Burial will follow at St. John Lutheran Cemetery. Colleen will lie-in-state for respect calls from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm, Tuesday, at Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home in Alma. The family suggests memorial contributions to St. John Lutheran School or the Alzheimer Association, and those may be sent in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.campanellastewart.com.