Zona Ione Clennan, 86, of Topeka, died peacefully at home on March 20, 2017. A Celebration of her Life will be held on Thursday, March 23, at St. Matthew's Church--visitation will be that morning from 9-11, with Mass at 11, a short graveside service at Penwell-Gable Cemetery at 6th and Gage, with a lovely lunch planned back at St. Matthew's.
Zona was born on April 7, 1930, in Salina, Kansas, to John William and Ruth Belle (Taylor) Neaderhiser. She grew up on her family's farm near Bennington, attending Bennington High School. Zona then attended and graduated from Salina Brown Mackie School of Business, where she met and married Joseph "Joe" Clennan in 1949.
She put her excellent skills to good use in various business settings in Salina, Kansas, as well as in Hastings, Nebraska, and finally, in Topeka. She worked for 23 years for Kansas Power and Light as a human resources professional, and in 1992, she attempted to retire. It became crystal clear to her after only a matter of weeks that she wanted to continue working, although this time only mornings, for the Kansas Department of Education through 2010 ("I have to be free to play cards in the afternoons.").
Perhaps a little known fact about Zona was that, in the early '40's, she sang with a traveling orchestra in the Salina area; her stage name was Terri Lee.
Zona and Joe had two children, Kelley Joseph and wife Meg (Richmond, Virginia) and Kimberly Michelle (Topeka), as well as an "adopted" daughter, Carol Holley (also Topeka). Zona adored her three granddaughters (Leslie (Seattle, Washington), Haley (Jacksonville, Florida), Amanda (Richmond, Virginia), and her two "special" grandsons, Tyler and Travis Hammond (Topeka). She loved hearing all about her grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's escapades. She was the BEST Grandma ever!
During her free time, Zona loved a great game of bridge (even despite an occasional, "I had awful cards, but I had fun"), singing in the Santa Fe Singers, and working jigsaw puzzles.
In lieu of your loving gifts of flowers, etc., Zona's family is asking that any financial contributions please be made to Midland Care in Topeka.
To leave a special message for the family online, visit the guestbook below.