Kathryn Schimpf Thole
Funeral services for former Marion County Treasurer Kathryn Schimpf Thole, 83, were held Monday morning at Strassburg Baptist Church, rural Marion.
Pastor Don Mashburn officiated. Bob Brookens, vocalist, sang "My Jesus I Love Thee," "How Great Thou Art," and "The Sweet Bye and By." Anita Brookens was the organist.
Casket bearers were Terrel Schimpf, Kevin Schimpf, Stephanie Schimpf, AshLee Schimpf Smith, Mark Heiser, and Larry Heiser.
Burial was in Marion Cemetery.
Born Jan. 14, 1919, on a farm near Ramona, she was the eldest of the six children of the late John and Mary (Kleiber) Heiser.
She graduated from Ramona High School in the class of 1936 and from Wichita Business College in 1938.
On Oct. 15, 1942, she was married to Ezra Schimpf. They had two sons, Jon and Gene.
The family lived on a farm northwest of Marion and after moving to Marion became owners and operators of the Dairy Queen in Marion for 10 years.
She was elected Marion County Treasurer in 1963 and continued to be re-elected on the Republican ticket until she resigned in 1987 to care for her husband, Ezra, whose health began to fail. He died Oct. 1, 1988.
On May 3, 1991, she was married to Sam Thole of Marion. He died May 9, 2001
She was a long time willing worker in the Republican party organization in Marion County, and was well known over a wide area.
She served on various organizations, quilted for Eastmoor United Methodist Church, was involved at Marion Senior Center, and was a member of Strassburg Baptist Church.
She always had time for her family, friends, and neighbors.
She was preceded in death by her parents and both husbands.
Survivors include sons and their wives, Jon and Susie Schimpf of Springfield, Mo., and Gene and Connie Schimpf of Black Mountain, N.C.; stepchildren Jon and Suzanne Thole of Marion, Karen and James Socolofsky, Marion, Beth and Norman Rowe of Paradise, Texas; three brothers, Harry, Charles, and John Heiser; two sisters, Neva Heidebrecht and Leona Fessler; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Memorial funds have been established in her name with Strassburg Baptist Church building fund and with Gideon's International.
