Obituary for Marilyn Fern Schmale (Lucas)
Marilyn Fern (Lucas) Schmale died at age 92, on Sunday, October 2, 2022, at The Cottages of Garden City.
She was born at her Aunt and Uncle’s farm on November 7, 1929, to Wesley Wayne Lucas and Mildred (Black) Lucas. Marilyn attended country school for her grade school years and during the week while attending Sublette High School, she roomed with her brothers, Wes and Jed, at a house in town. She returned home on weekends to the family farm in Haskell County near Satanta. She was able to pass two grades in one year during her country school time, thus she graduated from Sublette High School in 1946. She then graduated from Salt City Business School in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Marilyn enjoyed working as a secretary in Hutchinson and Garden City and traveling with girlfriends until 1950 when she caught the attention of Frank Schmale. They were married on April 21, 1954, at St. James Lutheran Church. Together they were blessed with four children: Rikki, Robyn, Rhonda, and Frank Wayne.
Marilyn was a devoted wife who supported her husband in his businesses; Mobile Electronics, Team Electronics, PermaScreen, and Mobil Phone and Communications, and several rental properties. Her secretarial and accounting skills were a real asset to Frank. She was also a devoted mother, raising children and participating in all their many activities.
Marilyn was an avid sports fan. She also enjoyed singing for several years in the Garden City chapter of Sweet Adeline’s both in the chorus and in a quartet along with her sister-in-law, Issie Bonebrake, called the Hi-Lows. Golf, shopping, and lunches with friends were high on her list of entertainment.
Those whom she leaves in her passing and who will miss her most are her daughters Rikki (Randy) Rueb of Topeka, Rhonda Stone of Garden City, her son Frank W. (Cheryl) Schmale of Garden City; her son-in-law Bill Bider of Topeka; her seven grandchildren Megan (Brian) Wehkamp of Garden City, Marci (Kevin) Flax of Ellis, Kali (John) Adams of Silver Lake, Brandon Rueb (Jake Rundle) of Colorado Springs, Lucas (Erin) Bider of Overland Park, Carly (Adley) Davis of Ellis, and Jada (Justin) Gemaehlich of Hays. Also, seven great-grandchildren Hayden Wehkamp, Derek and Ty Flax, Brielle Adams, Bexley Davis, and Ella and Ava Gemaehlich. She will be missed by her brother Wes Lucas; sister Vicki (David) Selby; sister-in-law Shirley Lucas; as well as many nephews and nieces.
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Frank; her parents Wayne and Mildred Lucas; her brothers Ron and Jed Lucas; her daughter Robyn Bider; and her son-in-law Steve Stone.
Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 9, 2022, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Garden City with Pastor Michael Hagemann officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Garden City. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City, and the family will be at the funeral home from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to visit with friends. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in honor of Marilyn be given in her name to Lee Richardson Zoo, a favorite destination for Marilyn, her children, and grandchildren. Condolences may be posted at garnandfuneralhomes.com.
She was born at her Aunt and Uncle’s farm on November 7, 1929, to Wesley Wayne Lucas and Mildred (Black) Lucas. Marilyn attended country school for her grade school years and during the week while attending Sublette High School, she roomed with her brothers, Wes and Jed, at a house in town. She returned home on weekends to the family farm in Haskell County near Satanta. She was able to pass two grades in one year during her country school time, thus she graduated from Sublette High School in 1946. She then graduated from Salt City Business School in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Marilyn enjoyed working as a secretary in Hutchinson and Garden City and traveling with girlfriends until 1950 when she caught the attention of Frank Schmale. They were married on April 21, 1954, at St. James Lutheran Church. Together they were blessed with four children: Rikki, Robyn, Rhonda, and Frank Wayne.
Marilyn was a devoted wife who supported her husband in his businesses; Mobile Electronics, Team Electronics, PermaScreen, and Mobil Phone and Communications, and several rental properties. Her secretarial and accounting skills were a real asset to Frank. She was also a devoted mother, raising children and participating in all their many activities.
Marilyn was an avid sports fan. She also enjoyed singing for several years in the Garden City chapter of Sweet Adeline’s both in the chorus and in a quartet along with her sister-in-law, Issie Bonebrake, called the Hi-Lows. Golf, shopping, and lunches with friends were high on her list of entertainment.
Those whom she leaves in her passing and who will miss her most are her daughters Rikki (Randy) Rueb of Topeka, Rhonda Stone of Garden City, her son Frank W. (Cheryl) Schmale of Garden City; her son-in-law Bill Bider of Topeka; her seven grandchildren Megan (Brian) Wehkamp of Garden City, Marci (Kevin) Flax of Ellis, Kali (John) Adams of Silver Lake, Brandon Rueb (Jake Rundle) of Colorado Springs, Lucas (Erin) Bider of Overland Park, Carly (Adley) Davis of Ellis, and Jada (Justin) Gemaehlich of Hays. Also, seven great-grandchildren Hayden Wehkamp, Derek and Ty Flax, Brielle Adams, Bexley Davis, and Ella and Ava Gemaehlich. She will be missed by her brother Wes Lucas; sister Vicki (David) Selby; sister-in-law Shirley Lucas; as well as many nephews and nieces.
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Frank; her parents Wayne and Mildred Lucas; her brothers Ron and Jed Lucas; her daughter Robyn Bider; and her son-in-law Steve Stone.
Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 9, 2022, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Garden City with Pastor Michael Hagemann officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Garden City. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City, and the family will be at the funeral home from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to visit with friends. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in honor of Marilyn be given in her name to Lee Richardson Zoo, a favorite destination for Marilyn, her children, and grandchildren. Condolences may be posted at garnandfuneralhomes.com.