August 20, 2014
Marie Joan (Bourdon) Kreipe (Shipshekwah), 95, Tecumseh, passed away at her home on August 4, 2014. Marie was born May 27, 1919, in Topeka, the daughter of Anthony Cecil and Lenora Cecilia (Blandin) Bourdon. She attended Assumption Grade School and graduated in 1937 from Topeka Catholic High School. She attended St. Mary College in Leavenworth as well as Kansas State University. During her time at K-State she was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority. On April 6, 1942, Marie married Edward V. Kreipe at Assumption Catholic Church in Topeka. Marie was a devout member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Marie was a member of many organizations including: the Daughters of Isabella, since 1940; the Topeka Kennel Club, where she was a groomer, breeder and handler and ZONTA International. She was a charter member of the Topeka Masters Swim Association. She also volunteered for over 75 year at the Red Cross. Marie was an avid swimmer, competing all over the world. She taught thousands of people how to swim. She volunteered and worked at the YWCA and the YMCA of Topeka; she trained the Tecumseh Fire Department in water rescue; she coached Seaman High School s men s and women s swim teams; she taught swimming lessons to the handicapped at the VA Medical Center and KNI, Capper Foundation and Kansas Institute for the Blind; she was a small craft instructor and merit badge counselor for the Boy Scouts and she was an instructor trainer in swimming. Marie was instrumental in getting the Blaisdell Pool built. Marie was also a skilled huntress and one heck of a pistol shot. She enjoyed hockey and loved the theatre. Her biggest passion in life however, was her eight children; she was very supportive of her children s endeavors. Marie was an excellent mother and will be dearly missed. Survivors include her children, Thomas Ivan Kreipe, Houston TX; Martha Anne (Jose) de Monta o, Waldorf MD; William Francis (Marvella) Kreipe, Tecumseh; Patricia Pete (Tom) Kelly, Denton TX; John Andrew (Kathy) Kreipe, St. Joseph MO; Joe Kreipe, Tecumseh; Mary Jane Pudge Wilson, Lawrence, and Liz (Cedric) Devin, Lawrence; 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Marie was preceded in death by her husband in 1983. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Parkinson support group sent to NE Kansas Parkinson Assoc., PO Box 251, Topeka KS 66601. Online condolences may be sent to www.kevinbrennanfamily.com Marie Joan Kreipe
(Courtesy of Kevin Brennan Funeral Home, Topeka, Kan.)