Lucille Brelsford

Lucille (Lou) Grace (Mankameyer) Brelsford, 95, of Topeka, KS died peacefully at Clare Bridge Topeka care facility on December 15, 2013. Lou was born in Kansas City Missouri on July 24, 1918 to Grace and Harry Mankameyer. She lived in Kansas and Missouri her entire life. Lou met her future husband, Harry Leroy Brelsford on a blind date arranged by her best friend. They were married, on May 20, 1939. Harry was the love of her life and they spent 68 very happy years together, They began their family when Harry returned from his duty in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Lou worked with her husband for a while when he became co-owner of Steeves Typewriter Company (later renamed Brelsford Office Machine Co.) in Kansas City, KS before taking on the full-time task as mother to their children and manager of their home and family finances. Lou was a devoted wife and mother. She volunteered for multiple school activities and served as a room mother in both of her children’s classes. Lou was a Cub Scout Den Mother and Girl Scout leader for many years.She loved taking her girl scouts on camping trips and on special trips to St. Louis and Chicago. Lou also loved spending time with and playing with her grandchildren. She and Harry loved to entertain in their home in Fairway, KS. They often rolled up the rug in their living room, spread dance wax on the floor, and danced with friends into the night. Lou was an avid bridge player. She and Harry developed life-long friendships hosting bridge parties. Lou was an excellent seamstress and made her daughter’s wedding dress. She was also an artist and made several beautiful oil paintings which were displayed in their home. When Harry retired in 1980, Lou and he moved to a home they built together at the Lake of the Ozarks. They spent many happy years there hosting frequent visits from family and friends. One of Lou’s special treats for visiting guests and family members was to cook a large breakfast in the morning for everyone while anchored out in quiet coves on the family pontoon boat. In 1998, Lou and Harry moved to Topeka to be nearer to their young grandchildren. Lou was preceded in death by her father and mother, her sister, Marjorie Heinz and husband Bob, Sr., her brother, Floyd Mankameyer and wife Aileen, her husband Harry, and Naomi Miller, Harry’s half-sister, whom Lou raised as a daughter from the age of two. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Gary Brelsford and Dixie Osborn of Vero Beach, FL, her daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Steve Elder of Topeka, two wonderful grandchildren, Shay Elder of Kansas City, KS and Megan Jones of Topeka, and one beautiful great grandson, Isaiah Jones, whom she deeply loved. At the time of her husband’s death in 2007, Lou and her children met with the director of the cemetery where Harry was to be buried. Two lots had been previously purchased, one for each of them. On viewing a chart of the burial plot, the funeral director indicated to Lou the lot in which Harry’s remains would rest. This provoked an immediate response from Lou who insisted that Harry be buried in the other of the two lots. She wanted to know that when her time came, she would rest eternally beside her husband on the same side she had always occupied in their bed for every one of their 68 years together. Visitation will be from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 19, 2013, at the Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 S.W. Urish Road., Topeka, KS 66614, funeral services will follow. Interment will be at Penwell-Gable Cemetery next to her husband. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America in care of Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home.

Lucille Brelsford

July 24, 1918 - December 19, 2013