Adrian Apel

Adrian A. Apel, 96, Topeka, Kansas, passed away on Friday, October 28, 2022. He was born July 13, 1926, in Ottawa, Kansas to Rev. Henry and Elva Van Meter Apel. He attended eight different schools by the time he graduated from Clifton High School in Clifton, Kansas. He joined the Navy in 1944 and served until 1946 as an aviation radioman on a PBM seaplane. Adrian graduated from Emporia State Teachers College and later received a Master of Education in Special Education from the University of Kansas. He married Kathryn E. Burkepile on May 24, 1953. They enjoyed 59 years of marriage until Kathryn passed away in 2013. They were blessed with three children, eight grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Adrian was a teacher in Esbon, Kansas for three years and then the Topeka USD 501 schools for 35 years. He taught the Educable Mentally Handicapped (EMH) at Boswell Junior High and later coordinated the EMH teachers for all of USD 501. Adrian was a volunteer for numerous organizations including Girl Scouts & Boy Scouts, Special Olympics, Tax-Aide for the Elderly and the Credit committee for the Topeka Teachers Credit Union. He sang in the First Presbyterian Church choir and sat on several committees in the church. He was instrumental in developing the Parental Stress Hotline to help with child abuse. Adrian was very proud of donating over 13 gallons of blood to the Topeka Blood Bank. In retirement, Adrian and Kathryn enjoyed years of traveling to Israel, Greece, England, Germany, Scotland, Switzerland, Hawaii and Alaska. They were members of a camping group and camped in many locations in the United States. They were also part of the Swinging Squares square dance club. Adrian loved Big Band music and dancing the jitterbug. He collected foreign coins. His love of family was evident in the way we were always gathering to be together as a family. Adrian loved to play with the grandchildren. Adrian was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn and brother and sister-in-law, Myron and Marilyn (Svensson) Apel, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Evelyn (Burkepile) and Jewell Walden. Adrian is survived by his children, Debra McKee, Shari (Randy) Tedford and Alan (Marie) Apel; grandchildren, Heather (Jason Perkins), James (Britta), and Christopher (Crystal) McKee, Andrew (Kate) Tedford, Sarah (Bryce) Buchanan, Aaron (Melanie), Michael (Elizabeth) Apel and Elisabeth (Jason) Sullivan; and 22 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, November 10, 2022, at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday, November 11, 2022, at First Presbyterian Church, 817 SW Harrison Street, Topeka KS 66612. Cremation will follow the service and private inurnment will be at a later date in Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church for Missions, Special Olympics, or TARC, and sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent online to www.kevinbrennanfamily.com.

Adrian Apel

July 13, 1926 - October 28, 2022