JoAnn Dreher

JoAnn Dreher, age 79, of Topeka, KS, passed away in the comfort of her home on Monday, February 8, 2021.

She was born on April 6, 1941 the daughter of Peter and Amelia Andes at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka.

JoAnn was baptized into her Catholic Faith at Holy Name Church, where she also attended Holy Name Grade School and later attended and graduated from Hayden Catholic High School in 1959.

She married Lyle Dreher in 1960 and they parented three children, then later divorced. JoAnn later adopted another daughter, Nickie.

She loved shopping with her girls and attending craft shows; as well as vacations they took together to Las Vegas. JoAnn devoted her entire life in the work field to children, running a home daycare. She made many friends through it. Her children and grandchildren were the light of her life, she loved them dearly and spent a lot of time with them. She also loved having them all home for birthday dinners and big holiday celebrations all together.

Survivors include her three daughters, LaDonna (John) Waldo, Christine (Lon) Weaver, Nickie (Kenny) Fields; and one son, Dan (Rayleene) Dreher; grandchildren, Aron (Ashley) Waldo, Alec Weaver, Josie Dreher, Keaton Harmon, Jillian Dreher, Lauren Harmon and one great-granddaughter, Gianna Griffiths. Other survivors include her sisters, Mary Ann Richardson, Carol Fruits, Cecilia Craig and Judy Rainey.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Charles Andres and a sister, Peggy McLaughlin.

JoAnn will lie in state at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Thursday, February 11, 2021 from 2-8:00 P.M., with the family being present from 5-8:00 P.M. A parish rosary will be recited at 6:00 P.M. and a family and friends rosary will be recited at 7:30 P.M. all at the funeral home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, February 12, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 5973 SW 25th St., Topeka, KS 66614. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery-Topeka.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in JoAnn's loving memory to Christ the King Catholic Church and/or Hayden High School. Contributions can be left or mailed to the funeral home.

To share a memory or to leave condolences, please visit, www.brennanmathenafh.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th St., Topeka, KS 66603.