Lou Ann M. Fankhauser

Lou Ann was born at the height of the Great Depression. She remembered red soil blowing so thick - she was frightened that her parents would never return from their chores.

In high school, she was active in accompanying, singing, playing French Horn and Organ. She attended Fort Hays State College and graduated with a major in Music Education. Her first years of teaching were elementary and high school choral and instrumental music in Haviland, Kansas.

In the summer of 1958, she went on a UNESCO sponsored trip for music teachers to Europe - eight countries that included the World’s Fair in Brussels, the International Music Teachers Convention in Copenhagen, and the Salzburg Mozartium. She also was able to visit three family relatives in Germany.

She and Charles Fankhauser were married the next year in Haviland, Kansas.

She was a children’s librarian in Evanston, Illinois, where Charles attended school, and son, Eric, was born. They moved to western Kansas where they were both teachers, and daughter, Debra, was born. During summers they earned advanced degrees from the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley.

In 1970, they moved to Overland Park, Kansas. Lou Ann taught choral music and band in elementary schools till her retirement in 1998. She loved planning, with her family, annual 3 week camping trips to many National Parks and other sites in the U.S. and Canada. She and Charles also played in a recorder ensemble for 35 years for the Renaissance Festival and for other groups. Debra and Eric remember her great appreciation of many different types of music and talent as a pianist and organist in particular. Other favorite memories include clothes making/sewing, baking cookies and pies, making crafts, and decorating for Easter and Christmas.

She was active in United Methodist Women, Choir, Handbells, and Adult Forum Sunday School class. After retirement, she led Discipleship classes for 9 years. Especially rewarding was a trip she and Charles made, retracing the 2nd and 3rd Missionary Journeys of the Apostle Paul in Greece, Turkey, and Italy. Their last trip was with a missionary group to the Western Caribbean.

Lou Ann was preceded in death by her Parents; husband, Charles Fankhauser and sister, Rosalyn "Rosie" Marquardt.

She is survived by son, Eric and his wife, Mary Burkin, and their daughter, Marijane; daughter, Debra Workman and her husband, Brian, and their daughter, Emma.

Lou Ann's visitation will begin at 9:30am, followed by her celebration of life service at 10am on Friday, March 10, 2023 at the McGilley & Hoge Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS. Her graveside service will be held at 2:00pm, Saturday, March 11, 2023 in Haviland Cemetery in Haviland, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to Church of the Resurrection - Overland Park Campus, 8412 W. 95th Street, Overland Park, Kansas in Lou Ann’s name for Adult Discipleship.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcgilleyhoge.com for the Fankhauser family.