In Memory Of
Joan L. O'Brate
1932
2014
Joan L. O'Brate
October 1, 1932 — July 3, 2014
Joan LaVerne O'Brate, 81, of Topeka passed away on Thursday, July 3, 2014 following a brief illness. She was born in Garden City, Kansas on October 1, 1932 and was the oldest of four daughters to Earl and LaVerne Cook. She married Tony O'Brate on December 27, 1953 in Garden City.
Joan graduated from Garden City High School and graduated cum Laude in three years from Southwestern College with a degree in History. She received her Master's Degree in Secondary Education (History) from Adams State College and her Library Certification from Emporia State College.
Joan retired from more than 36 years of teaching in 1995. She taught English, American Government, and Library in Mulvane, KS, Towanda, KS, Winfield, KS, Granada, CO, and Syracuse, KS. She greatly enjoyed sponsoring the Kayettes, the National Honor Society, the Quiz Bowl Team, and her Library Aides.
Joan and Tony have lived in Topeka since 2001, and were long-time residents of Syracuse, KS. She played the cello in her high school and college orchestra and quartets. She enjoyed singing in the Syracuse First United Methodist choir. She was never without a book in her hand, and instilled a love of reading in her children, grandchildren, and students. She loved to travel, and took several cruises after she retired. She also enjoyed babysitting her grandchildren, especially her youngest, Hunter. She was famous for doing crossword puzzles in ink, although she would always ask for help to fill in the blanks. She also loved her cats, Abby and Tasha.
Joan was a member of the Syracuse First United Methodist Church. She was president of both the Garden City and the Topeka Delta Kappa Gamma. She was, also, the reservation chairman of the Topeka Area Retired Teachers Association.
Joan is survived by her husband, Tony O'Brate of Topeka; her children, Jennifer (Keith) Roberts of Woodbridge, Va, Greg O'Brate (Tammy Runnebaum), Joellyn O'Brate, and Martin (Tracie) O'Brate of Topeka; 8 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; and her 3 sisters, Jean Murry of Coffeyville, OK, Janet Bowlby of Garden City, KS, and Judy Taldo of Park City, KS. She is also survived by her life-long friend, Shirley Anne Blackwell; friends, Phyllis Howard and K.J. King; and across-the-street neighbors, Ron and Sue Davis.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Syracuse First United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund or the American Cancer Society. Interment will be in the Syracuse City Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements by Dove Cremation & Funeral Service, Topeka, KS.
To leave a special memory of Joan, please visit the guestbook below.
Joan graduated from Garden City High School and graduated cum Laude in three years from Southwestern College with a degree in History. She received her Master's Degree in Secondary Education (History) from Adams State College and her Library Certification from Emporia State College.
Joan retired from more than 36 years of teaching in 1995. She taught English, American Government, and Library in Mulvane, KS, Towanda, KS, Winfield, KS, Granada, CO, and Syracuse, KS. She greatly enjoyed sponsoring the Kayettes, the National Honor Society, the Quiz Bowl Team, and her Library Aides.
Joan and Tony have lived in Topeka since 2001, and were long-time residents of Syracuse, KS. She played the cello in her high school and college orchestra and quartets. She enjoyed singing in the Syracuse First United Methodist choir. She was never without a book in her hand, and instilled a love of reading in her children, grandchildren, and students. She loved to travel, and took several cruises after she retired. She also enjoyed babysitting her grandchildren, especially her youngest, Hunter. She was famous for doing crossword puzzles in ink, although she would always ask for help to fill in the blanks. She also loved her cats, Abby and Tasha.
Joan was a member of the Syracuse First United Methodist Church. She was president of both the Garden City and the Topeka Delta Kappa Gamma. She was, also, the reservation chairman of the Topeka Area Retired Teachers Association.
Joan is survived by her husband, Tony O'Brate of Topeka; her children, Jennifer (Keith) Roberts of Woodbridge, Va, Greg O'Brate (Tammy Runnebaum), Joellyn O'Brate, and Martin (Tracie) O'Brate of Topeka; 8 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; and her 3 sisters, Jean Murry of Coffeyville, OK, Janet Bowlby of Garden City, KS, and Judy Taldo of Park City, KS. She is also survived by her life-long friend, Shirley Anne Blackwell; friends, Phyllis Howard and K.J. King; and across-the-street neighbors, Ron and Sue Davis.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Syracuse First United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund or the American Cancer Society. Interment will be in the Syracuse City Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements by Dove Cremation & Funeral Service, Topeka, KS.
To leave a special memory of Joan, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joan L. O'Brate, please visit our flower store.
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