Martha Lee Lusk

Martha Lee Lusk, 76, of Topeka, passed away Sunday, January 24, 2021.

She was born April 7, 1944, in St. Joseph, Missouri, the daughter of Lawrence and Georgia (Waggoner) Longwell.

Martha graduated from Washington High School in Washington, Kansas in 1962. She went on to attend Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas where she obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Education.

Martha married Stephen Irwin Lusk on July 17, 1977 in Topeka, Kansas.

Martha taught school at East Avondale in Topeka and later worked for the Topeka office of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. In 1984 Stephen and Martha moved to San Francisco, California where they worked as household staff for the city's Chief of Protocol, Charlotte Mailliard. As the city's official hostess, the Protocol Chief produced a variety of events from City Hall lunch meetings to the 50th anniversary celebration of the Golden Gate Bridge which drew a crowd of 800,000. Martha was the good-humored calm center of an energetic and creative house full of event planners and producers. Later Martha managed a pair of boutique hotels on Union Square. She managed the office and hosted over 100 weddings a year for the San Francisco Swedenborgian Church. She worked in the office for Tri-Valley Unity of Dublin, California until Martha and Stephen returned to Topeka in 2006 when Martha retired.

Survivors include her husband, Stephen Lusk of Topeka; her sister, Jane (Chris) Randall of Topeka; her brother-in-law, Doug Conlan of Overland Park, KS; her father-in-law, Neil Lusk of Wichita, KS; Stephen's brothers and sister, David (Pam) Lusk of Reno, NV, Eric (Pennie) Lusk of Owasso, OK, Anita (James) Hunter of Stilwell, KS and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and her lifelong best friend, Marty Siebert of Pleasanton, CA.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Mary R. Conlan; Stephen's sister, Lisa (Chris) Donner and her mother-in-law, Doris Lusk.

Martha was creative and enjoyed music, quilting, drawing, writing, reading, Jazzercise and finding art in life. She was also a great cook. Her SF kitchen was locally famous for her home style cooking and her chocolate chip cookies have fans from coast to coast. Over the years she fed politicians, business executives, socialites, musicians, ranch hands, celebrities and housefuls of children. Her nieces and nephews looked forward at the holidays to her cinnamon twists. Most of all Martha loved spending time with her family and friends.

Honoring Martha's request, cremation has taken place. A celebration of Martha's life will be held at 2:00 pm, Thursday, May 27, 2021 at Dove Cremations and Funerals – Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Rd., Topeka, KS 66610.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, 8401 Coleville Rd., Suite 200, Silver Springs, MD 20910, Topeka Rescue Mission, Inc. PO Box 8350, Topeka, KS, 66608 or to a Food Bank of choice in your community.

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