Sister Vita Julia Linnebur CSJ

Sister Vita Linnebur entered eternal life Thursday, June 19, 2014 in Marian Hall at the Wichita Center of the Congregation of St. Joseph. She was born May 27, 1926 to Leona Kramer and Francis Linnebur in Garden Plain, Kansas. Vita, the third daughter in a family of six girls and 5 boys was baptized the next day at St. Anthony Church in Garden Plain. The family moved to Tipton, Missouri and lived for a short time next to their maternal grandparents until the family obtained a house which would become their childhood home. She attended St. Andrew Catholic Grade School and Tipton High School. When she was twelve, her father died, a victim of pneumonia at age 42.

After graduating from high school, she attended the Templeman School of Cosmetology in Kansas City, Missouri. Vita worked as a beautician for two years before entering the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita on June 7, 1948. At the completion of her canonical year, Vita attended Creighton University Pharmacy School. After a year of internship at Mt. Carmel Hospital in Pittsburg, KS, she took the practical portion of the pharmacy exams and received a license to practice in Kansas and later a license for Oklahoma. For 42 years Sister Vita worked as a pharmacist and other ministries in El Dorado, Wichita, Pittsburg, Dodge City, KS , Ponca City, Blackwell, OK, Del Norte, Colorado, Hayward, CA. In September 1992, Sister Vita returned to Mt. St. Mary Convent where she lived until her death.

She was preceded in death by brothers Joseph, Clement and Vincent, sisters Sister Joan, Sister Leonida (Alma), Mary and Audrey, and is survived by brothers, Linus and Denis who live in Kansas City, MO, Sister Eula who lives in Wichita and numerous nieces and nephews. The homecoming is 3:00 pm Tuesday, June 24, with the Wake to follow at 6:00 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 25, 2014. Burial will follow in the cemetery at the Wichita Center. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph Dear Neighbor ministries. DeVorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.