Frances Wempe

Mass of Christian Burial for Frances Edna Wempe, 92, Lawrence will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Lawrence.  Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.  She died August 20, 2011 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

She was born January 1, 1919 at Centralia, KS the daughter of Louis F. and Orpha J. Yoder Vautravers.                    

Frances was a graduate of Centralia High School.  She attended Kansas Teachers College of Emporia, where she earned her teaching certificate.  She taught school in Osage City, and Frankfort, KS.  She married Francis R. Wempe on February 15, 1944 in Frankfort, Kansas.  Together they farmed and operated a registered Holstein dairy herd west of Lawrence. 

Mrs. Wempe was a longtime member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church and Altar Society.  She was a former member of Kanwaka EHU, and had served as a 4-H leader while her children and grandchildren were active in 4-H.

Survivors include: two sons, Donald (Doris) Wempe, Pomona, KS; Sam (Lauri) Smith, Lecompton, KS; two daughters, Connie (Edward) Kniffen, Tyndall, SD; Shirley Bones of Ottawa, KS; fourteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, and the love of her life, her husband, in 2002.

A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Monday, August 22, 2011 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary with visitation to follow.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Douglas County Visiting Nurses, Rehabilitation and Hospice Care or to Corpus Christi Catholic Church and may be sent in care of the mortuary.