Mario A. Peralta Sr.

Mario Arturo Peralta, Sr. Mario A. Peralta, Sr. passed away at the age of 84 on December 12, 2011 at St. Francis Health Center. He was born on Conjutepeque, El Salvador, the son of Arturo Peralta and Lydia Rajo. Mario served in the United States Army. Mario worked at Hill?s Pet Nutrition, Inc. for forty-one years. He worked a number of positions, working his way up to supervisor of the Dry Department and helped with the testing and development of products and running of the first extrusion equipment. He then became manager and managed all the production lines on 2nd shift for a number of years. He retired in 1990 to care for his wife. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Council #2608. Mario married Carmen DelHierro on April 1, 1949 in Topeka. She preceded him in death on December 8, 2000. A sister Celina Faucher also proceeded in death. He is survived by his eight children: Mario Peralta, Jr. (DeVona) of Topeka, Sonia Lesko (Pete) of Tampa, FL, Elizabeth Akerstrom (Mick), Diane Knebel (John), David Peralta, Mark Peralta, Roger Peralta (Julie) and Denise Peralta all of Topeka. Fourteen grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren also survive. Mario will lie in state after 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. A parish rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary at 6:45 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Interment will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church sent in care of the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Ave., Topeka 66603.