Ralph "Whitey" C. Appelhanz, Jr.

Ralph “Whitey” C. Appelhanz, Jr., 81, of Topeka, passed away on April 19, 2021 at Stormont-Vail Hospital.

He was born in Topeka, Kansas on October 6, 1939, the son of Ralph and Margaret (Puhl) Appelhanz, Sr.  He attended St. Joseph Grade School and Hayden High School.

Whitey served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Colonial. 

Whitey worked for the Pacific Intermountain Express (PIE) Truck Line, Ryder/PIE, Churchill Truck Line, and retired from the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library in 2001.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church where he was an usher and a Germanfest volunteer.  Whitey enjoyed gardening, golfing, baseball, bowling, going to the dog races, NASCAR and was an avid football fan. What he enjoyed most of all was spending time with his family, grandchildren and his Pizza Parlor friends.

Whitey married Ruth Wessel on August 19, 1967 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  She survives.  He is also survived by his children, Marsha (Chris) Stafford of Topeka, Jason D. (Tracy) Appelhanz of Scranton, Troy (Kelsey) Appelhanz of Lincoln, NE along with four grandchildren, Curtis (Detta) Stafford, Austin (Haleena) Stafford, Aynsley Appelhanz, Jaxon Appelhanz and several step-grandchildren.   Four siblings, Richard (Charlene) Appelhanz, Mary Anne Haag, Ruth (Dennis) Phillips, Paulette (Mike) Hafenstein also survive.  He was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Margaret Appelhanz, Sr. along with four siblings, Rosella Appelhanz, Margaret Shields, Josephine Robinson and Patricia Burghart.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 until 7:00 pm, today, Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with a Parish Rosary being prayed at 5:30 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 22, 2021 at the church.  Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial donations be made in his memory to Sacred Heart/St. Joseph Parish sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6^th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603.

Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.brennanmathenafh.com.