Sep 25, 2021

Tonya L. (Bittel) Sweat

Posted Sep 25, 2021 8:54 PM

Tonya L. (Bittel) Sweat passed away on 9/21/2021 at Hays Medical Center.  She was born June 3, 1980 in Hays, Kansas to Marvin and Mary (Wasinger) Bittel.

She married Shawn Sweat on 4/28/2007, at St. Fidelis in Victoria, KS. Tonya graduated from Thomas Moore Prep-Marian High School in 1998 where she went on to Fort Hays State University to receive a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a Minor in German. Tonya moved to Gladstone, MO in 2004. She became an active member of Northland Cathedral. Tonya and Shawn opened their home and hearts to children in the foster care system in Missouri and were fortunate enough to be able to adopt two of the children, Hannah and Ryan, both in 2012. Tonya and Shawn opened their arms and hearts to children who needed them most and showed them a loving family and what it means to follow in their faith. In 2019 Tonya and Shawn decided it was time to move away from Kansas City and moved to LaCrosse KS. Tonya enjoyed spending time with her nieces and nephews, she would spend hours playing video games with them or just being on the phone with them while they played. They would spend almost every weekend at her house working on crafts or puzzles. Tonya became affectionately known as Tonga by her youngest niece and nephew. After moving to LaCrosse she became a member of Celebration Community Church. She was a devoted friend and would build lifelong friendships with the people she came across in her life. If anyone ever needed anything she was always right there for them.

Survivors include her husband Shawn, LaCrosse; son Ryan, Hays; daughter Hannah, Kansas City, MO; parents Marvin and Mary Bittel, Hays; sister Sheri Bittel (Joe Hillebrand), Hays; brother-in-law Scott Sweat (Tiffany), Olathe; father and mother-in-law Leroy and Kay Sweat, Olathe; nieces and nephews Allison Hillebrand, Alex Hillebrand, Leah Hillebrand, Rhys Hillebrand, Hays and Dylan Sweat, Olathe.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents Tony and Margaret Bittel and Andrew and Miriam Wasinger, and three uncles Ron Wasinger, Cliff Wasinger, and John Wasinger.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at 2:30 PM at Celebration Community Church with Pastor Brandt Rice officiating.  Interment will follow the services in the St. Francis Cemetery - Munjor, Kansas. 

Viewing and Visitation will be Monday, September 27, 2021 from 5 PM to 7 PM at Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine Street Hays, Kansas 67601 and on Tuesday beginning at 1:30 PM prior to services at Celebration Community Church, 5790 230th Ave Hays, Kansas 67601. 

Memorials are suggested to benefit the college education of Ryan Sweat, made payable to Shawn Sweat and can be mailed to Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, PO Box 86 Hays, KS 67601.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected].