Jesse Torrez

Mr. Jesse Torrez passed away Tuesday, March 16, 2010 after battling pancreatic cancer. Jesse was born August 7, 1949 to Jesus Torrez and Josefina Lucia Hernandez in Dodge City, Kansas. He moved with his parents to Great Bend, Kansas when he was two years old. Jesse was a member of the Argon Rebels Bugle Corp. Color Guard. He also was a member of his rock and roll band the “No Where Boys.” He graduated from Great Bend High School in 1967. He moved to Topeka, Kansas in 1967 to attend Washburn University. He married his junior high school sweetheart Patricia Lue Clark on June 28, 1969 at the Saint Rose Catholic Church in Great Bend, Kansas. She survives. Mr. Torrez worked for the Topeka Police Department from 1969 to 1999. He served and was promoted to many different positions during his career. He began working night shift as a clerk typist in the Records Division in 1969. At the age of twenty-one, he became a police officer working as a Patrolman in 1970. In 1971, he transferred to the Traffic Division. The Topeka Capital-Journal gave Jesse an award for Police Officer of the Month in February 1972. He was promoted to Corporal in 1974. In 1979, he was promoted to a Detective. He became a Sergeant of Patrol in 1983 and then was promoted to Detective Sergeant in 1985. In 1986, he was promoted to Lieutenant and worked both in the Patrol and Traffic Divisions. Jesse was also honored to represent the Topeka Police Department in attending the 167th Session of the FBI National Academy in 1991. In 1996, he was promoted to Captain in the Police Administration Services. Jesse was promoted to Major in 1998 and retired in 1999 after 30 years of service. Mr. Torrez worked part-time for the Capitol Police at the Secretary of State’s Office and at Cedar Crest from 2000 to 2010. Jesse was a member of the First Lutheran Church and the Fraternal Order of Police. He supported and contributed to the Washburn University Whiting Field House renovation, Washburn University Softball Endowment Scholarships, Hummer Sports Park 2nd Softball Field and the Arthritis Foundation. Jesse will be remembered most by his family and friends as a caring husband, father, brother, son, coach, friend, and leader. Survivors include his wife; his son, Jeffrey Torrez and his wife Signe Sandquist of Merriam, Kansas; his daughter, Christiana Torrez and her partner Marcie Eckhart of Topeka, Kansas; his granddaughters, Courtney Torrez and Erica Torrez of Merriam, Kansas, Madison Torrez of Topeka, Kansas; his parents, Jesus Torrez and Josefina Hernandez of Great Bend, Kansas; his sister, Maria Torrez and her husband W. Ray Anderson of Topeka, Kansas. Jesse will lie in state from 3 to 8p.m. Friday at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Rd., Topeka, KS 66614, rosary will be prayed at 6 p.m. Family will greet friends from 6 to 8p.m. that evening. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church, 1234 SW Fairlawn, Topeka. Burial will be 1p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, Topeka. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may made to First Lutheran Church, Pancreatic Cancer Research, or the Jesse Torrez memorial fund, funds are to be used in the naming of a softball field after his daughter, Christiana “Chris” Torrez c/o any Core First Bank.

Jesse Torrez

August 7, 1949 - March 16, 2010