Richard Appelhanz

Richard “Rich” Appelhanz, 76, of Topeka, KS died Saturday, September 25, 2021 at Tanglewood Health and Rehabilitation. He was born May 12, 1945 in Topeka, KS the son of Ralph Appelhanz, Sr and Margaret Puhl. Rich attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and graduated from Hayden High School. He served in the US Army during the Vietnam War. Rich retired as a Freight Carmen from Sante Fe Railroad and was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen. If you were looking for Rich on a Saturday afternoon, you’d either find him at the casino on a penny slot or in his chair with his K-State blanket and his trusty dog Bear on his lap. Rich married Charlene Sawazhki on April 20, 1968 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She survives. Other survivors include six children, Cindy (Arlen) Riggs, Richard Appelhanz, Amy Manrose, Anne (Tony) Escalante, Anthony (Shana) Appelhanz, Mary (Micah) Reece and fifteen grandchildren. Three siblings, Mary Anne Haag, Ruth (Dennis) Phillips, Paulette (Mike) Hafenstein also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents Ralph, Sr. and Margaret Appelhanz, along with five siblings, Rosella Appelhanz, Margaret Shields, Josephine Robinson, Patricia Burghart and Whitey Appelhanz. The family will receive friends beginning at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, October 3, 2021 at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, concluding with a Parish Rosary being prayed at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m., (noon), Monday, October 4, 2021 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Burial with military honors will follow in Mt. 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 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603.