Lorene Grapengater
1923 - 2016
Obituary
Lorene Elizabeth Rutschman Grapengater,
92, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on
Wednesday (July 13, 2016).
She was born November 30, 1923, in
Whitewater, to Julius and Martha Wiens Rutschman. She was the fifth
of nine children. She graduated from Whitewater High School.
She married Ron Grapengater of Newton
on Feb. 17, 1945 – they were married for 71 years.
Her employment, all in Newton,
included: The Selective Service during World War II, FW Woolworth
Department Store, and Dillons Food Stores.
She was preceded in death by her
parents; her brother, Alvin Rutschman of Wichita; and her sisters,
Ella Miller of Santa Barbara, California, Blanche Early of Canon
City, Colorado, twin sister Florene Lettau of Newton, Bernice Unruh
of Newton, Delores Schenewerk of Wichita and Julia Decker of Sun City
West, Arizona.
She is survived by her husband, Ron
Grapengater of Newton; her brother, Marvin Rutschman of Dodge City;
her four children, Bob (Elaine) Grapengater of Pueblo West, Colorado,
Rick (Susan) Grapengater of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Dana (Kim) Grapengater
of Garden City and Mary Beth (Garry) Pennington of Chanute; her nine
grandchildren, Michele Grapengater Harrington, Jeff Grapengater, Mark
Grapengater, Laura Grapengater Ellison, Jennifer Grapengater
Moussavi, Megan Grapengater Palen, Richard Pennington, Matthew
Pennington and William Pennington; as well as by her eight
great-grandchildren, Kayli Higdon, McKenna Harrington, Brock
Harrington, Charlotte Ellison, Ford Ellison, Reese Grapengater,
Michael Grapengater and Annabelle Pennington.
She was a member of Salem United
Methodist Church and served in many ministries over many years. She
loved playing cards with her sisters and bowling. She was a loving
wife, mother, and grandmother – she always put others' needs first.
Her sweetness and laughter will be missed by her family and friends.
Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m.
Sunday (July 17, 2016) with the family receiving friends from 2 to 4
p.m. at Petersen Funeral Home, 215 N. Main Street, Newton.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday
(July 18,, 2016) at Salem United Methodist Church, 115 Old Main
Street, Newton, KS. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are
suggested to Harvey County Safe House or the Harvey County Homeless
Shelter in care of Petersen Funeral Home.
