Jennifer Tara Haugh

Jennifer "Jenn" Tara Haugh, 49 years old, left this side of the universe on December 14, 2021. Due to a rare genetic disorder called Li Fraumeni syndrome, Jenn had breast cancer twice (2006, 2018) and brain cancer once (2019). Despite the fact that she was forced to spend the last 16 years in the shadow of illness, she never let it define her or her life. She passed in the comfort of her Topeka home, surrounded by her pets and with her husband at her side.

Jenn was born August 14th, 1972 to parents Marta "Marty" Ann Bell and William "Bill" Randall Cowan, in Topeka, KS. Jenn was a lifelong Topeka resident, but lived in Paxico for a short time as a child. She fondly reminisced on that stint in her life. She would eventually become big sister to her sister Catherine "Cate" Anne Cowan and younger brothers Jacob "Jake" Cole and Zachary "Zack" Ryan Frisbie.

Jenn was a second generation Topeka West High School student whose support for her alma mater grew exponentially while her children went to school there. She attended Washburn University in the fall of 1990 where she would eventually receive her Bachelor's Degree in fine arts, setting her up for a long and rewarding career working in advertising and marketing. One of her first jobs after college graduation was at the Kansas Bar Association where she would meet her future spouse, James "Jim" Brian Haugh. They met in early 1997 and were married in October of the same year. The birth of their first child, Sydney Elizabeth, would follow in December. 1997 was a busy year for her! She was always the best multi-tasker, even early on. Several years later in 2000 their second child, Brendan James, was born, nearly completing the Haugh family. That is, not until a few pets were thrown into the mix.

Jenn was multi-talented with a list of interests too long to name, but she was particularly fond of painting, drawing, photography, and crocheting. She worked in a variety of marketing and advertising positions in Topeka, including being the editor for the Kansas! magazine and the manager of public and government affairs at AAA. She was working as the marketing director for Topeka Civic Theater at the time of her passing and she was so, so happy there. Not only were her general job skills of social media management and graphic design put to good use, but there was space for her immense creativity to shine as well.

She is survived by her husband, Jim; daughter, Sydney and her husband, Logan; son, Brendan; mother, Marty; step-father, Bruce; siblings, Catherine, Jake, and Zack; cats, Charlie and Posey; dogs, Rado and Shelby; and an extensive list of beloved nephews, cousins, and friends. She was predeceased by her father, Bill.

Those that knew and continue to love Jenn will find comfort in a field of sunflowers or while a pink sunset crosses the sky. Even though she isn't physically here, she is somewhere, everywhere, always.

There will be an informal celebration of life on December 22nd, 2021 held at Topeka Civic Theater from 5-8 pm.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Jennifer Haugh Memorial Fund through Azura Credit Union or the Jenn Haugh Memorial Fund via GoFundMe.