[ Obituary ]

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Nov 21, 2001 by Capital-Journal

Frances Brame

Frances T. Brame, 85, Topeka, died Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2001, at her home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at Holy Family Catholic Church in Alma. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Mrs. Brame will lie in state after 10 a.m. Friday at the church.

Piper-Verschelden Funeral Home in St. Marys is in charge of arrangements.

Brenda Briggs

Brenda K. Briggs, 36, Topeka, died Sunday, Nov. 18, 2001, at a Topeka hospital.

Ms. Briggs was the assistant to the press secretary of the office of former Gov. Mike Hayden and the administrative assistant to former Kansas Senate President Sen. Bud Burke. She later was an underwriter for Kansas Medical Mutual Insurance Co. and then a sales and marketing account representative for the Manhattan Broadcasting Co. She later was the marketing and corporate sales director for the Curtain Co. and Program Director for the Manhattan Arts Center in Manhattan.

She was born July 6, 1965, in Topeka, the daughter of Larry R. and Polly J. Griffin. She was raised in the Ozawkie and Meriden area and graduated from Jefferson West High School in 1983. She attended Washburn University.

Ms. Briggs was baptized into the Wanamaker Woods Church of the Nazarene, where she remained a member.

She married Donald E. Briggs II on Jan. 28, 1984, in Meriden. They were divorced.

Survivors include her parents, Larry and Polly Griffin, Ozawkie; a daughter, Becki Briggs, Topeka; two sons, Donovan Briggs and Chase Briggs, both of Topeka; a brother, Dave Griffin, Ozawkie; and a sister, Cathy Chapman, Bay City, Mich.

Cremation is planned. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Wanamaker Woods Church of the Nazarene. Inurnment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Dr. James Suen- Otolaryngology, 4001 W. Capital Street, Little Rock, Ark., 72205, for ACC Research.

Katharyn Brown

Katharyn G. Brown, 82, Topeka, died Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2001, at a Topeka nursing home.

Services will be announced by Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel.

Elizabeth Henderson

Elizabeth Henderson, 83, Topeka, died Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2001, at a Topeka nursing home.

Services will be announced by Bowser-Johnson Funeral Chapel.

Robert Rochford

Robert R. Rochford, 65, Topeka, died Monday, Nov. 19, 2001, at his home.

Mr. Rochford worked for the Social Security Administration for 20 years and he had been a legal assistant/social security specialist for Tilton and Tilton LLP since 1989. He also served in the Army.

He was born June 8, 1936, in Omaha, Neb., the son of LeRoy and Frances Barry Rochford. He graduated from Creighton Prep School in Omaha in 1954, and he earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from St. Louis University.

Mr. Rochford was a member of the Catholic Faith and Capitol Post No. 1 of the American Legion.

He married Susan A. Ryan in October 1961 at Omaha. She died in August 1979. He married Marlene Schmar on March 17, 2001. She survives.

Other survivors include three sons, Robert Raymond Rochford, Oklahoma City, and John Barry Rochford and James Ryan Rochford, both of Topeka; three daughters, Catherine Ryan Archer, Julie Ann Kendall and Patricia Susan Gillin, all of Topeka; three brothers, Darrell Rochford, Mobile, Ala., and Kenneth Rochford and Dennis Rochford, both of Omaha; two stepsons, Peter Schmar, Lafayette, La., and Thomas Schmar, DVM, Topeka; 21 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon Saturday at Holy Name Catholic Church. Cremation will follow the services and inurnment will be at a later date. Mr. Rochford will lie in state after 3 p.m. Friday at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, where a parish rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.

Contributions may be made to the Robert Rochford Memorial Fund and sent in care of the funeral home, or to Stormont-Vail Hospice, 2252 S.W. 10th St., Topeka, Kan., 66604.

Gerald Schwindamann

Gerald E. Schwindamann, 66, Topeka, died Monday, Nov. 19, 2001, at his home.

Mr. Schwindamann worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. from 1966 until he retired in 1997. He served in the Army 101st Airborne in Germany.

He was born Sept. 24, 1935, in Axtell, the son of Gertrude Schmidt and William C. Schwindamann. He graduated from Marysville High School.

He married Mary Moser Kaiser Bennett in April 1966. She survives.

Other survivors include a son, Chris Schwindamann, Topeka; a stepson, Craig Kaiser, Topeka; two stepdaughters, Charleen Kaiser, Wichita, and Joannine Wetlengel, Topeka; a brother, Bill Schwindamann, Marysville; three sisters, Bergl McBlair, Beloit, Betty Weyer, Liberty, Neb., and Laretta Hutton, Dix, Neb.; two stepgrandsons; and two stepgreat-granddaughters.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Schwindamann will lie in state after noon today at the funeral chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to Stormont-Vail Hospice Care, 1000 S.W. 10th St., Topeka, Kan., 66604; or to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Kanab, Utah, 84741-5000.