Marie Aunkst

Marie Elisabethe "Tilly" Aunkst, 83, of Topeka, passed away on Saturday, June 4, 2011 at a Topeka hospital. She was born August 6, 1927 in Darmstadt, Hessen, Germany, the daughter of W. Friedrich and Maria Wollmann Menzer.

She has resided in Topeka since 1972. She and her husband, Joe, traveled extensively while in the military. She was a member of Hope Lutheran Church. Tilly married Joseph D. Aunkst on December 24, 1954 in Basel, Switzerland. He survives. Other survivors include one daughter, Brigitte A. Aunkst- McCall of Topeka, three grandchildren, Joe Fergel, Jim Fergel and Joyce Fergel-Laird, four great-grandchildren, Eddie, Jessica, Jimmy and Jenna and her nephew, Ewald Menzer of Darmstadt, Germany. Tilly was preceded in death by her sister, Antonie "Toni" Theuerkauf.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday at Hope Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery. Tilly will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Hope Lutheran Church, 2636 SE Minnesota Ave., Topeka, KS 66605. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com.