IN MEMORIAM

EXPANDED EULOGIES

“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.

Deanna Klenda

Funeral service for Deanna Klenda, 80, who passed away Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at her home in Wichita, were 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at Yazel-Megli Funeral Home, Marion.

Deanna’s family gathered with friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 3, 2024, at the funeral home.

She was laid to rest at Pilsen Cemetery.

Deanna’s life began April 15, 1944, in Wichita. Her parents were Albert and Pauline (Hanus) Klenda.

Deanna was raised on a farm north of Marion and graduated from Marion High School with the Class of 1962.

She went on to attend and graduated from Kansas State University in 1967.

Deanna moved to the Bay area of San Francisco, where she worked for World Airways, flying charter flights all over the world.

After she was a flight attendant, Deanna moved to Kayenta, Arizona, and taught school on a Navajo Indian reservation.

In 1969, Deanna moved to Wichita and was a probation officer for 17 years.

In 2001, she moved back to the farm near Marion and worked for the funeral home. She later retired and spent her time in both Wichita and Marion.

When Deanna was not hard at work, she was a member of the Wichita Bar Association Auxiliary for 15 years and served as president in 1980.

She also was a member of the Kansas Court Services Officers Association.

Deanna coordinated the National League of Families of POW-MIA in Southeast Asia.

Deanna was very active in St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Wichita, where she served on the vestry in the early ’80s.

Deanna had two great passions in her life: her family and her mission to bring her brother, Dean, home.

She adored her family, which included her sons, Gavin Peters of Wichita and Kyle Peters (and Carla Martin) of Daphne, Alabama; her daughter, Jillyn Schmidt (and Tray) of Manhattan; and her grandchildren, Ezra Peters, Tripp Schmidt, and Bodey Schmidt.

Deanna cherished spending time with her family at the farm, and her greatest joy was when everyone gathered for sunset in the sunset chairs.

Deanna worked tirelessly to bring her brother, Major Dean Klenda, home after he went missing in action Sept. 17, 1965.

Fifty-one years to the day after his aircraft was shot down in North Vietnam, he finally was laid to rest, and Deanna’s mission finally was complete.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Pauline, and brothers Donald Klenda and Dean Klenda.

Yazel-Megli Funeral Home, Marion, is serving the family.

Memorial contributions in Deanna’s name may be directed to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or to Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Please sign her online guestbook and leave a memory of Deanna at www.yazelmeglifh.com.