Raymond P. Rombeck

Raymond P. Rombeck of Topeka passed away October 31, 2014 at St. Francis Hospital. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was a kind and generous man greatly loved by his family, friends, and community. He was genuinely interested in everyone he knew and everyone he met. He never spoke a negative word of anyone. Ray was born to Lawrence and Margaret (Vogelsberg) Rombeck on December 4, 1927 on a farm a mile west of Frankfort, KS. He attended Annunciation Grade School in Frankfort. In March 1933, the family moved to a farm a mile east of Winifred and he attended Walker District 16, a one room school. He attended Frankfort High School. He was captain of the football team his senior year. His record in track for the pole vault stood for three decades. He graduated in May 1945. In February 1946, he enlisted for two years in the Navy. He completed bootcamp and basic training at San Diego Naval Training Center and spent the remainder of service in Washington D.C. at the Naval Communications Annex. He worked as a parts salesman for Brauchi Brothers Implement Company in Marysville until August 1957 when he joined Prudential Insurance Company as a District Agent. He was promoted to Sales Manager August 1959 and transferred to Topeka where he spent the remaining 32 years of his career. He married Mary Ann Bramlage on July 10, 1956 at St. Gregory's Catholic Church in Marysville, KS. They had five daughters in five years. Mary Ann passed away on July 20, 1965. He married Edith Henry Eisenbarth on August 16, 1966. They had two more daughters. Ray was a member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish, Knights of Columbus Council #4254, and American Legion Post #400. He was a long time member of the Northeast Kansas Chapter of Chartered Life Underwriters and Past President of the Topeka Association of Life Underwriters. Ray was a longtime volunteer and supporter of Hayden High School. Ray loved spending time with his family. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and watching sports on TV, especially K-State and the KC Royals. He is survived by his wife Edith, and seven daughters: Susan (Philip) Schell of Chesterfield, MO, Linda (Jerome) Oborny of WaKeeney, KS, Diane (John) Gottsch of Spokane, WA, Julie Hart of Dallas, TX, Laura (Craig) Williams of Carrollton, TX, Janet (Andrew) Morgenstern of Baldwin City, KS, and Nancy (Scot) Immenschuh of Shawnee, KS, 18 grandchildren: Aileen, Andrew, Stephen, Eric, Jeremy, Jaimie, Julie, Jared, Joe, Will, Jenna, Kayla, Bryan, Sarah, Ben, Henry, Max and Sam, one great-granddaughter Madeline, and many in-laws, nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sister Alice Pline of Melba, ID. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters: Ruth Griffee, Betty Roggenkamp, and Margaret Ellen Brooks. Ray will lie in state at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church on Monday after 4:00 p.m. where a Parish Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. and a Knights of Columbus Council #4254 Rosary will be at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at the church. Interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery with military honors provided by the American Legion. Memorial contributions may be made to Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish and sent in care of Brennan Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Ave., Topeka, Kansas 66603. Online condolences and fond memories may be left at www.brennanmathenafh.com.