Piper Funeral Home

04/06/2026

Lanny W. Ellis

Lanny W. Ellis, 85, passed away on April 5, 2026, at home. He was born May 4, 1940, in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Frank and Elizabeth (Robinson) Ellis. Lanny grew up in Topeka, attended Eskridge High School for two years and graduated from Topeka High in 1958. He attended Washburn University before moving to Chicago, Illinois, where he worked for three years for the Rock Island Railroad. Lanny served eight years in the Kansas Army National Guard and the...

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04/04/2026

Ruby Arlene Zeller

Ruby Arlene (Welter) Zeller, 93, of Topeka, KS passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2026 surrounded by her family. Ruby was born on November 16, 1932 in rural Pottawatomie county near Westmoreland , KS, the daughter of Wilson Ray and Georgia Beatrice ( Chaffey - Domeny ) Welter. Ruby attended elementary schools in the Westmoreland and Louisville areas and graduated from Wamego High School in 1950. Ruby married Rocky Zeller on September 4, 1951 at St. Bernard Catholic Church in...

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04/03/2026

When you lose a loved one, the "what comes next" can feel overwhelming. At Piper Funeral Home, we believe our responsibility to your family doesn't end when the funeral service concludes.

We know that the paperwork and logistics of an estate are the last things you want to focus on while grieving. That’s why we’ve added dedicated Estate Aftercare to every funeral package we offer. Our specialists walk beside you to help with:

Claiming benefits you may be entitled to.

Closing accounts and making necessary notifications.

Navigating assets and protecting the estate.

Answering the "now what?" questions with a clear, written plan.

We’re here to take a little bit of the weight off your shoulders, so you can focus on what truly matters: honoring your loved one and healing together.

Since 1894, Piper Funeral Home has been a part of the fabric of this community. For over 130 years, we have been honored to care for our neighbors, and we remain deeply committed to evolving our services to meet your needs with the same compassion and local heart we've had since the very beginning.

🤍 Piper Funeral Home | Caring for our community since 1894.

04/02/2026

Thomas Richard Hackett

Thomas Richard Hackett, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather and great grandfather, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at the age of 83. Tom was born on October 4, 1942 in Trinidad, CO, the son of the late Bennet Francis Hackett and Evelyn Margaret (Richardson) Hackett. He was the oldest of five children and is predeceased by his brothers Donald, David and James Hackett. He is survived by his sister Catherine (Hackett) Martinez, his...

04/01/2026

Ronald "Rocky" C. Zeller

Ronald "Rocky" Clem Zeller, 93, of Topeka, passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2026 surrounded by his family. Rocky was born on September 21, 1932 at the family home in rural Wabaunsee county near Paxico, the son of Francis Michael and Mary Maude (Deiter) Zeller. Rocky attended Paxico Elementary and graduated from Paxico High School in 1950. Rocky married Ruby Arlene Welter on September 4, 1951 at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Wamego, KS. He and Ruby lived in the...

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03/27/2026

We know that the hardest part of a goodbye isn't always the funeral itself—it’s the mountain of details that follow. You shouldn't have to be an expert in estate logistics while you're grieving. We're here to take those tasks off your plate, at no cost, simply because it’s the right way to care for our neighbors.

Did you know it takes the average family between 14 and 18 months to fully settle a loved one's estate?

At Piper Funeral Home, we believe our responsibility to you doesn't end when the service is over. We are proud to now include professional Estate Aftercare Specialists to help you navigate the complex world of notifications, benefits, and account closures.

This service is provided at no additional cost. It is fully included in our basic service charge because your family deserves to focus on healing, not on paperwork.

🕊️ Piper Funeral Home: Supporting you through the service, and every step that follows.

03/26/2026

Pamela Rae Pace

Pamela Rae (Wyker) Pace, 77, of St. Marys , died on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at her home. Pam was born to Chester and Mary Jane (Jenkins) Wyker on August 27, 1948 in Belvue, KS. Pamela lived most of her life in the St. Marys area and was raised by her step-mother LeOra Hayes Wyker. She graduated from St. Marys High School and attended Kansas State University, Highland Community College and Ft. Hays College. She was married to Jim Pace...

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03/22/2026

Delores Mae Hesse

Delores Hesse passed away on March 19, 2026. She was born on February 26, 1932. In March of 1951, she married William Hesse who preceded her, and together they shared a life rooted in love and faith for over 70 years. A woman of few words, she was stoic and selfless. She and Bill devoted much of their lives serving the church and community. She loved to cook and spend time with family and friends. Her proudest joy was her...

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03/13/2026

Gregory Thomas Toenjes

Gregory Thomas Toenjes passed away unexpectedly of natural causes in his home in rural Kansas on March 11th, 2026. He was 38 years old. Born on April 7th, 1987 in Wi******er, KS, he was the 11th of 12 children born to the late Thomas and Teresa (Brighoff) Toenjes. He grew up on a small farm near St. Marys, KS and loved spending time outside with his siblings, playing, swimming in the pond, building forts, exploring, calligraphy, artwork and more. He...

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03/08/2026

Joan Lucille Rezac

Mrs. Joan Lucille "JoAnn" Rezac ( née Blocker), age 94, passed away on March 7, 2026, after a brief illness, surrounded by her family. She had made her home in Emmett, Kansas, since 1971. Joan was born December 4, 1931, in St. Benedict, Kansas. She received her early education in Nemaha County and graduated from Hayden High School in Topeka in 1950. On April 19, 1952, she married Bernard Anthony Rezac in Topeka. Together they shared 56 years of devoted...

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03/03/2026

Elizabeth C. Treacy

Elizabeth Catherine Treacy, nee Schanne, 98, of St. Marys, died on Monday, March 2, 2026 at the St. Marys Manor surrounded by her family. Elizabeth was born to the late Joseph Maximillian & Crescentia Schanne in Germantown , Penna. She was the fourth child and is predeceased by brothers Jack Schanne, Joseph Schanne & sister Irene Gluch. She is survived by her sister Milly. Betty graduated from St. Cecilia’s Academy and worked as a secretary for the Internal Revenue Service....

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03/02/2026

Larry Dean Schmidt

Larry Dean Schmidt, born on October 28, 1955, in San Francisco, California, passed away on February 28, 2026, at the Colmery-O'Neill VA Medical Center in Topeka, KS. Larry proudly served his country as a Sergeant in the Army, demonstrating his commitment to duty and service.As a skilled carpenter, Larry dedicated many years to the construction industry, leaving behind a legacy of hard work and craftsmanship. He will be remembered for his strong work ethic and his ability to bring projects...

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