Ida Mabel Willis

Ida Mabel Shrontz Willis, 102, passed away Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at Aldersgate Village where she lived for the last two years. Mabel was born December 3, 1906 in Nemaha County, Kansas to David Walter and Mary Elizabeth Root Shrontz. Mabel was the oldest of four children; her siblings, Edith, Kenneth and Earl preceded her in death. Mabel’s family moved to Morris County, Kansas, where she graduated from Wilsey Rural High School in 1925. Mabel graduated from Kansas State Agriculture College in 1929 with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics. Mabel began her teaching career in Asherville, Kansas; she taught in Fostoria, Kansas where she met and on August 22, 1931 married John G. Willis at St. Columbkille Church in Blaine, Kansas. Four children were born of this marriage, Francis Eugene, Robert John, Mary Joan and Judith Kathryn. During World War II and in the 1950’s Mabel worked as a chemist at the Sunflower Ordinance Plant. In 1956 she resumed her teaching career in mathematics and science at Wheaton High School and then Onaga High School from which she retired in 1971. Mabel moved to Topeka in 1975. She was a member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, St. Theresa’s Sewing Mission, Sunday Widows Bridge, Topeka Civic NuComer’s Club, Extension Homemakers Unit and a lifetime member of Kansas State Alumni Association, Kansas Ornithological and National Audubon Societies. For Christmas presents to her children and grandchildren, in 1986 Mabel put together family picture albums with historical stories of her children’s great grandparents, grandparents and parents families. Mabel hand quilted quilts for her family and continued until 2004 piecing quilt tops for Let’s Help with the Most Pure Heart of Mary sewing group. In 2003 she was nominated to receive the Jefferson Award; and was selected as a finalist in the Community Enrichment category. Mabel is survived by her son, Francis and his wife Ruth of Adair, OK; daughters, Mary Washer and Judy Gilliand and her husband David, of Topeka. She has sixteen grandchildren, twenty five great grandchildren and sixteen great great grandchildren. Mabel had many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, step children, step grandchildren, step great grandchildren and step great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of forty three years, John G. on July 10, 1974 and their son, Robert and his wife Mary, his daughter Laura and step daughter, Rose on November 21, 1981. Rosary will be 5:30p.m. Friday with visitation following from 6 to 8p.m at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Rd., Topeka, KS 66614. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, 3601 SW 17th St., Topeka. Burial will be 3:00 p.m. Saturday at St. Michaels Cemetery in Wheaton, KS. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to Topeka Rescue Mission, 600 N Kansas Ave, Topeka, KS 66608 or Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, c/o Ministry to the Aging, 3601 SW 17th St, Topeka, KS 66604.

Ida Mabel Willis

December 3, 1906 - September 15, 2009