John Robert Waetzig

John Robert Waetzig, 71, of Topeka, went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, March 8, 2005. He was born on March 8, 1934 in Carbondale, the son of John A. and Lavinia Kosier Waetzig and spent all of his youth there graduating from Carbondale Rural High School in 1952. Mr. Waetzig worked as a computer and data processing professional retiring from Hill's Pet Nutrition in 1993 after almost 40 years with that company. He was a member of the 1951 Kansas State High School basketball champions. Mr. Waetzig resided in Carbondale until 1974 where he was active in numerous community activities including the Carbondale Youth Athletic Club, serving on the City Counsel and serving on several community boards and committees. He was a member of Wanamaker Woods Church Of The Nazarene. Since retiring, he and his wife had been active in church ministry work at a large "winter visitor" resort in Arizona holding services and studies there. He married Joan Punches on January 11, 1953 at Carbondale. She survives. Other survivors include three daughters Rhonda Brown and husband, Steve of Tecumseh, Natalie Waetzig of Topeka, Lana Reinhart and husband Roger of Minneapolis, Ks., one son, Daniel and wife Annette of Garden City, Ks., six grandchildren and one great-grandson. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Brenda Sue in 1961. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday at Wanamaker Woods Church Of The Nazarene. Burial will follow in Carbondale Cemetery. Mr. Waetzig will lie in state after 4:00 p.m. Thursday at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel where the family will receive friends from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday evening. Memorial contributions may be given to Wanamaker Woods Church Of The Nazarene, 3501 S.W. Wanamaker Rd., Topeka, Ks. 66614 or the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 1653, Topeka, Ks. 66601-1653. A special message may be given to the family online at www.penwellgabel.com.