Patricia Ann Waner

Patricia “Patsy” Ann Waner passed away in Shawnee, Oklahoma on Monday the 27th of Sept. 2021 at age 89.  She was born to the late Mary Margaret (Reznicek) and Joseph Herman Meysing at their farm home located 4.5 miles southwest of Pilsen, Kansas. Patsy was the fourth child of five and the only girl.

On June 20, 1940, Patsy was honored to serve as a bride of honor at family friend and neighbor, Fr. Emil J. Kapaun’s first mass as a priest. At 9:30 a.m. a long procession from the rectory to the church was led by Eugene Kapaun, brother of Rev. Emil Kapaun, two acolytes, 14 clergy, 32 flower girls, five pages, two brides of honor, the bride, her veil bearer, four mass servers, deacon, sub-deacon, archpriest, and the celebrant, Rev. Kapaun.

Patsy attended country schools for her primary education followed by Marion High School, but spent her final year of high school at Sacred Heart Academy, now Newman University in Wichita, where she earned her teaching certificate. Ultimately she went on to earn a bachelors in elementary education from Tabor College and masters from Wichita State University. Patsy taught at several schools in Marion County, including stints in Lincolnville, Canada, Pilsen and Marion in grades three, six and Title I. She loved her students and delighted in hearing from them over the years.

Patsy met the love of her life, George, when they stood up together at the wedding of George’s sister to Patsy’s brother.  After a whirlwind courtship, they married on August 12, 1954 at St. John Nepomucene in Pilsen. The newlyweds rented a house in Lincolnville and began renovating a county school house on what is now Remington Road in Marion County. They moved to the Remington home in August of 1955 in time for the birth of their son Leo, born Aug. 31. They raised  their children, Leo, Mary Kay and Ann there. Later in life they sold the home and relocated to Shawnee, Oklahoma to be near family and grandchildren. They enjoyed the close neighbors and activities of “town-living”.  George and Patsy were married nearly 60 years until George’s death in 2014.

As a lifetime Catholic, Patsy’s faith was very important to her. She was a parishioner at Holy Family Catholic Church in Marion, Kan. and later St. Benedict Catholic Church in Shawnee. She was an active  member of the Altar Society in both parishes--worshiping, volunteering, baking and assisting in projects and fundraisers.

Patsy is survived by her children, Leo (Juliette) Waner, Mary Kay (David) Holland and Ann (Steve) Buckendahl. Grandchildren include Rachel, Alex, and Nicole Waner, Matthew (Abi) Holland, Katie Salinas (Jason McClaren) and Claire Buckendahl; great-grandchildren Arianna and Valentino Salinas, Zoey, Sadie and Darci Holland. Patsy is preceded in death by her parents, brothers and husband George.

Funeral Mass will be Friday, October 15, 2021 at 4:00 P.M. at All Saints Catholic Church, 3205 East Grand, Wichita, Kansas. Inurnment will be Saturday October 16, 2021 at 10:00 A.M. at Marion Cemetery, Marion, Kansas.

Memorials may be made to the Father Kapaun Guild, 424 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS  67202 or by having a Mass celebrated in her honor. It was one of her most fervent desires that she be remembered through the celebration of the Mass. The location of the Mass can be at a Catholic parish of your choice.