Adelaide "Addie" Hanna

Adelaide Hanna, of Topeka, died Thursday, March 20, 2025, surrounded by her family. She was 95.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Dr. Carl and Marjorie Schutz, Adelaide attended The Barstow School, Ogontz College in Philadelphia, and, later, the University of Kansas, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.

It was at KU that she met, and later married, Payne Ratner Jr. The couple made their home in Wichita, where they raised three children.

Hers was the most gifted of personalities: a born storyteller, she was bold and funny in her conversation; wise in her assessments; compassionate in the help she offered others. She was a buoyant and joyful force in the lives of her many friends and a reliable source of love and laughter for her family until the very end.

Survivors include her children, Payne Ratner III, Charlotte Ratner (Steve Gick), and Carl Ratner; her siblings, Frannie Jank (Bill Jank), Carl Schutz (Judy Schutz); and her six grandchildren, Rick, Tayler, Adelaide, Christian, Graham, Simon, and six great-grandchildren, for whom she was “Dolly,” whose resilience, humor, and affectionate spirit has given them a template to live by.

Services will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Helping Hands Humane Society of Topeka.

To leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.