Marilyn Fern (Lucas) Schmale died at age 92, on Sunday, October 2, 2022, at The Cottages of Garden City.
She was born at her Aunt and Uncle’s farm on November 7, 1929, to
Wesley Wayne Lucas and Mildred (Black) Lucas. Marilyn attended country
school for her grade school years and during the week while attending
Sublette High School, she roomed with her brothers, Wes and Jed, at a
house in town. She returned home on weekends to the family farm in
Haskell County near Satanta. She was able to pass two grades in one
year during her country school time, thus she graduated from Sublette
High School in 1946. She then graduated from Salt City Business School
in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Marilyn enjoyed working as a secretary in Hutchinson and Garden
City and traveling with girlfriends until 1950 when she caught the
attention of Frank Schmale. They were married on April 21, 1954, at St.
James Lutheran Church. Together they were blessed with four children:
Rikki, Robyn, Rhonda, and Frank Wayne.
Marilyn was a devoted wife who supported her husband in his
businesses; Mobile Electronics, Team Electronics, PermaScreen, and Mobil
Phone and Communications, and several rental properties. Her
secretarial and accounting skills were a real asset to Frank. She was
also a devoted mother, raising children and participating in all their
many activities.
Marilyn was an avid sports fan. She also enjoyed singing for
several years in the Garden City chapter of Sweet Adeline’s both in the
chorus and in a quartet along with her sister-in-law, Issie Bonebrake,
called the Hi-Lows. Golf, shopping, and lunches with friends were high
on her list of entertainment.
Those whom she leaves in her passing and who will miss her most are
her daughters Rikki (Randy) Rueb of Topeka, Rhonda Stone of Garden
City, her son Frank W. (Cheryl) Schmale of Garden City; her son-in-law
Bill Bider of Topeka; her seven grandchildren Megan (Brian) Wehkamp of
Garden City, Marci (Kevin) Flax of Ellis, Kali (John) Adams of Silver
Lake, Brandon Rueb (Jake Rundle) of Colorado Springs, Lucas (Erin) Bider
of Overland Park, Carly (Adley) Davis of Ellis, and Jada (Justin)
Gemaehlich of Hays. Also, seven great-grandchildren Hayden Wehkamp,
Derek and Ty Flax, Brielle Adams, Bexley Davis, and Ella and Ava
Gemaehlich. She will be missed by her brother Wes Lucas; sister Vicki
(David) Selby; sister-in-law Shirley Lucas; as well as many nephews and
nieces.
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Frank; her parents
Wayne and Mildred Lucas; her brothers Ron and Jed Lucas; her daughter
Robyn Bider; and her son-in-law Steve Stone.
Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 9,
2022, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Garden City with Pastor Michael
Hagemann officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery in
Garden City. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday
at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City, and the family will be at the
funeral home from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to visit with friends.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in honor of Marilyn be given in her name to Lee Richardson Zoo, a favorite destination for Marilyn, her children, and grandchildren. Condolences may be posted at garnandfuneralhomes.com.