With the passing of Joan Ruth Totten Seim Kogler on Feb 19, 2022, (age 84) we lost a kindred spirit, infectious smile, bright eyes that could see through anything and anybody, an engaging wit, and compassionate friend who was more interested in helping others than herself.
Joan was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother. She was preceded in death by her brother, Wayne Totten, d.1945; mother, Ester Gentry Totten, d.1952; father, Harry Totten, d.1957; first husband, Gale Seim, d.1959; stepmother, Alvina Schwartz Totten, d.1986; sister, Jean Totten Huff, d. 2003; and second husband, Stan Kogler, d.2020.
Joan was born in Shelbyville, Indiana on December 22, 1937. Her family moved to Udall, Kansas when she was three following her grandfather who was a Methodist minister. They soon relocated to Gypsum, KS. where her father found work as a prison guard in the Falun WWII prison camp. Those “dumb-assed boys” of Gypsum never knew what hit them from third grade on!
Joan grew up quick when her mother lost her life on the operating table at the young age of 44. Herself, only 15, she had to be “mom” to younger sister Jean, and homemaker for the family. To help make ends meet, she made their clothes, becoming an excellent seamstress, even teaching 4-H sewing later in life. She also helped the Ade’s process chickens for the Abilene Hospital, even to the point of chopping off the chickens heads and fully dressing them! She graduated from Gypsum High school as valedictorian of her class, was a cheerleader, baton twirler, played both the bass and snare drums and was rarely challenged in ping-pong during her lunch hour!
Soon after high school she married Gale Seim and bore 2 children; Larry of Southport, NC, and Pam of Steamboat Springs, CO. The tragic farm tractor death of Gale left Joan a widow at age 21. Fortunately, for the young family, a great friend, Stan Kogler, came to their rescue and married Joan, raising her kids, and their own son, Duane of Vancouver, WA.
With their children all graduating from college and pursuing their own careers, Stan and Joan continued living on the farm near Kipp, KS for over 60 years. During that time, along with farming, they ran a successful country electrical and plumbing business, with Stan providing the knowledge and labor, and Joan “doing the books”! Not engaging enough for Joan, she also worked as a legal secretary, drove the kids’ school bus, and of course was an excellent homemaker and cook. Her cinnamon rolls and pies were used to bribe Stan to do work on “their” house and delight the kids’ college friends and hunting buddies!
Joan also had a love for drawing and drafted the family’s country home. That led to an interest in artistic painting and she learned several types, but thoroughly enjoyed oil painting. Stan had given her painting lessons and even converted the home’s one car garage to a painting studio where she perfected her craft and even taught classes. Her work was published in local newspapers/mags and exhibited in fairs, where she won several awards, including Wheat Hearts Lifetime Achievement award. Over a 40 year period, she recreated over 100 renderings and detailed over 300 porcelain “Santas” she gave as gifts to family and friends.
Her love for painting and her painting friends took her around the country attending workshops, with favorite experiences being Canyon de Chelly, AZ and 4WD jeep rides around Ouray, CO. Her travels also developed an interest in diverse nativity sets and she amassed over 500 pieces, many from her painting friends and family, that she would display in her home and decorate her Christmas tree.
Some of her favorite memories were attending athletic events of her kids and family vacations to Indiana, Colorado and California; and of course visiting her kids and grand-kids living in Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas, California, Connecticut, Washington, Colorado and North Carolina. She also enjoyed her 50th wedding anniversary when the kids surprised her with a family cruise through the inside passage of Alaska.
Joan lived a full life, despite numerous family deaths in her early years, and struggled later with heart condition and diabetes, that limited her mobility. But her memory and vision were exceptional right until the end, and the family was able to reminisce personally and via Facetime many great memories. She will be missed by family and friends here on earth, but looks forward to seeing all of those that preceded her, hoping that Gale and Stan will be fighting for her affection!
Joan leaves behind son, Larry of Southport, NC, daughter-in-law, Laura and grandchildren, Michael and Meredith Smith (Michael); daughter, Pam Beardmore of Steamboat Springs CO, son-in-law, David, grand-child, Allison Nash (Ben) and great-grand-children, Charli, Kimbal and Sloane; grandchildren, Madison and Emily; son, Duane of Vancouver, WA, daughter-in-law, Karen, and grandchildren, Mathew, Daniel and Katie; and many nieces and nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 25, 2022, at the Trinity United Methodist Church, Salina, KS. Burial will be in the Gypsum City Cemetery, Gypsum, KS. Friends may call at the Ryan Mortuary on Thursday, February 24, 2022, from 4 until 8 pm that evening, where the family will receive friends from 4 until 6 pm.
Memorial are suggested to the Salina Community Theater or Trinity United Methodist Church.