Kathryn Apel

Kathryn Elizabeth Burkepile Apel, 87, of Topeka, died Friday, March 8, 2013. She was born Aug. 22, 1925, to Dewey and Ruth (Moats) Burkepile in Burlingame, KS. The family moved to Hoxie, KS in 1932, where Kathryn graduated from Sheridan Community High School, now Hoxie High School. One of her interests in high school was playing trombone in the marching band. Kathryn attended Colorado Women's College in Denver, Colorado, for two years and went on to graduate from the University of Kansas with degrees in Microbiology and English. She trained as one of the first Registered Medical Technologist at Menorah Hospital in Kansas City, MO, and was then recruited by the doctor in Smith Center, KS, to set up the first medical lab in the local hospital. One Christmas, while at Menorah, she went home to Hoxie. At the Christmas Eve Service, she met Adrian Apel, whose father was the pastor at the Hoxie Presbyterian Church. It must have been love at first sight, for they married just a year and a half later on May 24, 1953. They moved to Topeka, KS, where they set up house and were blessed with three children, Debra, Shari, and Alan. Adrian and Kathryn would have been married 60 years this coming May. In Topeka, Kathryn worked at the Topeka Veterans Administration Hospital, and later was hired by St. Francis Hospital. While at St. Francis, she became the Chief Medical Technologist, and remained there for 24 years. She ended her career working for Dr. Newman V. Treger, retiring in 1988. She and her husband were very involved with First Presbyterian Church from the time they moved to Topeka in 1953 until 2005 when her health declined. They were Youth Group Leaders and active members of Mariners, Prospector's, and Kerygma. She was also very active in Presbyterian Women's Circle Group. Kathryn was involved with the Girl Scouts and Boys Scouts throughout much of her early years. After retirement she kept active with Swinging Squares Dance Club, Topek’s Camping Club, Washburn Walkers, TARTA, and the Knife & Fork Club. One of her passions was her work as District Coordinator for Tax Aide for the Elderly for Topeka and Osage County. She also served as board president of the Church Development Corporation of the Synod of Mid-America and was an Elder of First Presbyterian Church, Topeka. Kathryn and her husband loved to travel and camp in their motor home. Throughout their travels they visited Hawaii, Alaska, Germany, Switzerland, Israel, Greece, England, Scotland, and took a cruise through the Panama Canal. Kathryn was preceded in death by her parents and her brother-in-law, Jewell Walden. She is survived by her husband, Adrian, and three children, Debra McKee, Topeka KS; Shari (Randy) Tedford, Gardner KS; Alan (Marie) Apel, Topeka KS; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren: Heather McKee and Jason Perkins, and their children, Courtney, Madison and Josiah, Topeka KS; James and Britta McKee, and their son, Daniel, Topeka KS; Christopher and Elizabeth McKee, Topeka KS; Andrew and Kate Tedford, and their children, Rosalie, Lillian and Maryanne, St. Louis MO; Sarah and Bryce Buchanan, and their daughter, Braelynn, Manhattan KS; Aaron and Melanie Apel, Manhattan KS; Michael Apel, Topeka, KS; Elisabeth Apel, Topeka, KS; and sister, Evelyn Walden, Hoxie KS. Family will greet friends 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, March 15, at Aldersgate Village in Parlor 206 in Manchester Lodge. Memorial service will be at 10 a.m., Sat. Mar. 16, 2013, at First Presbyterian Church. Inurnment will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church or Aldersgate Village for the hospice family support kits, being developed by her children. Send memorials in care of Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 Urish Rd, Topeka KS 66614. Online condolences may be sent to www.kevinbrennanfamily.com. The family would like to thank the staff of Elmhurst Court at Aldersgate Village Health Care and Midland Care Hospice for their gentle care of our mother during the last days of her life with us.

Kathryn Apel

January 1, 1753 - March 8, 2013