1936 – Katherine Schiller Mulanax

Katherine Schiller Mulanax of Manhattan died on May 14, 2012 at the age of 97. Katherine was born in Kirwin, Kansas on September 4, 1914. Her parents were Frank and Edith (Thomas) Schiller. She was married to Dr. Paul A. Kline on May 24, 1941 and he passed away in 1942. On Feb. 20, 1943 she married Alvin E. Mulanax and he died on March 24, 1987.

She attended the University of Kansas School of Nursing from 1933 to 1936 and became a Registered Nurse. She was later certified as a Public Health Nurse at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. In 1940, she moved back to Abilene to become a school nurse until 1941.

In 1936, Katherine was a Staff Nurse at the Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City. Katherine also worked at St. Luke's Hospital in Denver; the Swedish American Hospital in Rockford, Illinois; St. Joseph Hospital, Hot Springs, Ark; St. Mary's Hospital, Manhattan; was a private duty nurse also in Manhattan; University Hospital at Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; and Lafene Student Health at Kansas State University until she retired in 1977.

Katherine was a member of the First Christian Church of Manhattan and the Lydia Group. Survivors include her son Roger (Jo) Mulanax of Manhattan; a sister, Ruth Jackson of Topeka; her grandson, Douglas L (Jamie) Mulanax; great granddaughters Hannah Kate and Molly Ann Mulanax. She was also preceded in death by a great granddaughter Emily Caroline Mulanax. (Updated November 2012)

1947 – Mary Ann Boliaris

Ms. Boliaris passed away July 5, 2012. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, her sons Gary and Nick and her husband Tom. She leaves behind daughters Janet Szarek, Nancy and Anita and a son Tom Jr.

After receiving her nursing degree, Mary Ann married her husband, Tom, and moved to Chicago. She worked as a Pediatric Nurse until she moved to Brookfield, WI and worked as a RN at the Congregational Home. After retiring, she worked part time for Worldwide Health Services and volunteered for AngelsGrace in home hospice program. (Updated October 2012)

1950's

1951 – Nellouise (Nell) Shanahan Sherman

Nell Sherman passed away July 19, 2012 at the age of 81. She traveled extensively during her husband's 20 years of service in the U.S. Air Force. Nell worked as both a volunteer and practicing nurse. After her husband's retirement, they moved to Lawrence, Kansas and Nell worked as a professional nurse for a group of doctors and also for Visiting Nurses Association.

Nell is survived by her husband, Jerry, her children, Thomas, Barry, Fredrick and Penny, nine grandchildren and one great granddaughter. (Updated August 2012)

1952 – Barbara Wasson McPherson

Barbara passed away on February 18, 2012. (Updated April 2012)

1952 – Barbara Wasson McPherson

Barbara passed away on February 18, 2012. (Updated April 2012)

1957 – Patricia Bowen

"Tricia" (Muson) Bowen passed away February 17, 2012 in Manhattan, Kansas. She taught nursing at many different colleges in her lifetime. She also wrote articles for the Clay Center Dispatch. She was an American Red Cross volunteer, member of Habitat for Humanity, Nature conservancy and First Presbyterian Church. She was preceded in death by one son, Douglas Bowen. She is survived by her husband, Montie Bowen, a son, John Bowen, two daughters, Sarah Allred and Jennifer Schmitendorf , three grandchildren and numerous other family members. (updated March 2012)

1965 – Vesta Margaret Baehr

Ms. Baehr, 92, passed away February 19, 2012. She graduated from Trinity Lutheran School of Nursing in 1940, then from the University of Kansas in 1965 with a BS in nursing. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul in 1983. Survivors include her son, John Baehr, daughter, Linda Baehr and granddaughter, Melinda Baehr, Esq. (updated March, 2012)

1965 – Bonnie Bashor Peterson

Bonnie defended her dissertation in January, 2012 for her PhD. She will graduate in May, 2012. She is a proud grandmother of four grandchildren, 10, 8, 5, 4. (Updated April 2012)

1966 – Joyce Bishop Campbell

Joyce graduated from KUMC with a degree in Nursing in 1966 and her MBA. She started her own business, NS – National Placement Service for Neurosurgeons, in 1993. She owned and enjoyed American Saddlebred horses.

She is survived by her partner of 20 years, John R. Franck, two sisters; Carol and Jennifer, a niece, nephew and great-niece. (Updated July 2012)

1975 – Cynthia A. (Burnett) Murray

Cynthia Murray passed away August 3, 2012. She was preceded in death by her father and her youngest sister. She leaves behind her husband, Thomas Murray, her children, Anne Emert and spouse, son Thomas Murray, Jr. and spouse, and a grandchild, Samuel Thomas Emert. She is also survived by her mother and two sisters.

She graduated from KU in 1971. Her senior year, she studied at the University of Exeter, England, on a Rotary Scholarship. She then graduated from the KU School of Nursing in 1975, among the top three students in her class. (Updated August 2012)

1976 – Kimberly Batty, RN

Kimberly passed away on November 26, 2012. She leaves behind a son, Travis and other family members. (Updated December 2012)

1977 – Roberta D. Thiry, PhD

Dr. Thiry passed away April 24th in Salina, KS. She was born December 12, 1926. She graduated from KU with a Ph.D. in Nurse Scientist Program specializing in Communications and Human Relations. Dr. Thiry considered her greatest contribution to be as a mentor and support of nurses in advancing their education and career development, thus there are three endowed scholarship funds honoring her at Pittsburg State University, Kansas Wesleyan University and the Kansas Nurses Foundation. (Updated May 2012)

1978 – Sharon Wynne Reddin

Ms. Reddin passed away October 2, 2012. She leaves behind her husband, Jack L. Reddin, two sons; Tim and Lee and six grandchildren.

Ms. Reddin loved to read, she traveled afar, and she flew airplanes. She led by example. (Updated October 2012)

1984 – Jennifer J. West

Ms. West passed away March 22, 2012 after a courageous battle with lung cancer. She received her BS in Nursing from KU. She found her career in nursing to be very rewarding and something she really enjoyed. In her words "It was the highlight of my life."

She married Charles West in 1970. He survives along with a son, Michael, daughter, Sandra, three granddaughters and two great-granddaughters. (updated April 2012)

1984 – Ruth Holthaus

Ruth passed away at the age of 85 on August 28, 2012. Ruth graduated in 1943 from Burlington High School then married Albert E. Holthaus on May 21, 1949. She was a mother and homemaker then studied nursing at William Jewell College, earning her nursing degree in 1976. She then earned a masters in nursing from University of Kansas in 1984. She taught and continued her nursing education earning her Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner degree in 1993. She moved to Burlington in 2005 to be near her sister. She was preceded in death by her husband and sister. She is survived by a daughter, Marla Lanning and son, Matthew, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. (Updated September 2012)

1987 – Elizabeth (Breen) Smith

Elizabeth (Breen) Smith passed away Wednesday Sept. 5, 2012, at her home. In 1987 Elizabeth graduated with a degree in nursing from the University of Kansas. She worked as a RN and Director at the Bethany Medical Center, Providence and Liberty Hospitals. On Aug. 22, 1992, Elizabeth married Wesley "Dean" Smith. He preceded her in death on July 21, 2012. She received her masters in 1999 from U.M.K.C. and also taught classes at KCKCC and William Jewell College. She was a member of the Lawson Methodist Church and the Circle of Friends Society in Lawson. Elizabeth loved fishing with her husband, Dean, and traveling to Branson, where they enjoyed attending Gospel and Bluegrass shows. She loved reading, gardening and hosting family gatherings for the holidays and special events. Survivors include: four sons, Chris Breen of Liberty, Aaron Voth and wife Michelle of Newton, KS, Andrew Voth and wife Janel of Overland Park, KS, Ben Voth and wife Nicki of Clark, MO; one step-daughter, Christina Smith of Liberty; two brothers; twelve grandchildren and one great- grandchild. In addition to her husband, Dean, Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents. (Updated September 2012)

1989 – Patricia E. Krehbiel

Patricia Krehbiel passed away April 17, 2012 after a brief illness. She attended the University of Missouri and afterwards lived in New London, Conn. Always having a thirst for knowledge, she attended the University of Kansas and received a Master's degree in nursing and a Nurse Practitioners license. Patricia worked at the Lipid Clinic at KU Medical Center in the 80s until the mid-90s. She then worked at Quintiles for a number of years before becoming the Manager of Quality Assurance for Ausbio Pharmaceuticals. She enjoyed her job and the traveling that went along with it and made lasting friendships. She was able travel to all parts of the world with her job and enjoyed those adventures very much. Patricia had many hobbies. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed watching her flowers bloom throughout the summer in her garden. She loved collecting art and beautiful things for her home. Cooking gourmet food was an enjoyable pastime for her. New York was one of her favorite places to visit and she loved going to Broadway Theater productions. Time with her two grandsons, Jack and Tom, were her most joyous. She loved cooking, reading, fishing, and playing games with them most of all. She would drop everything to devote her full attention to them and they will miss her greatly. She and Scott enjoyed collecting bird feeders and cactus together. They had a very special relationship that was full of love and admiration for one another. She was a kind, caring, and compassionate soul who will be missed. She is survived by her son, Scott, his wife Kelly, and two grandsons, Jack and Tom, of Shawnee. (Updated October 2012)

1990's

1994 – LTC Sandra L. Stuban

Sandra passed away on June 14, 2012 at home with her husband by her side after a seventeen year battle with ALS. She was a very remarkable person. With the help of a computer, she wrote a book "The Butcher's Daughter", the story of an Army Nurse with ALS. She was the patient representation to the International Ventilator Users network, and lobbied Congress along with the American Legion to advocate for increased Aid & Attendance Allowance support for severely disabled veterans so that they had an option to remain with their families instead of being institutionalized.

A long-time member and local chapter officer in Sigma Theta Tau International, the Honor Society of Nursing, Sandy received their Inspirational Award in 2004.

She was preceded in death by her son Nicholas 'Nick' Stuban, who died in January 2011. She leaves behind her husband LTC Steven Stuban and her parents, two sisters and other family members. Sandra will be greatly missed.

View this inspirational video about Sandra that was created by the army and featured in The American Veteran February 2010 issue. (Updated July 2012)

1996 – Renee Michele Prenice

Renee passed away on January 2, 2009. She left behind two sons, Joseph Conlin Prenice and Nicholas Anthony and step-daughter, Cheyenne. (Updated September 2012)