Carolyn "CJ" Harper
May 24, 1942 ~ January 25, 2021
Carolyn “CJ” Harper, age 78, passed away, Monday, January 25, 2021at St. Francis Medical Center surrounded by her beautiful daughters.
CJ was born May 24, 1942 in Culbertson Nebraska to Ida Mae & Carl Sitzman. CJ married her Christian soulmate William Harper October 22, 1961at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook, Nebraska. CJ was retired from the Wichita Clinic where she did clerical work and had also previously worked for Pizza Hut Corporation and FDIC.
CJ will be remembered as a lover of Christ, devoted wife, loving mother, amazing granny, sister, aunt, cousin and friend to many. She had a servant heart that touched the lives of so many people through her involvement with Victory in the Valley and her church ministries. She was an avid Husker fan and helped start the Kansas Cornhusker Club with her husband Bill. She was a breast cancer survivor which drove her passion to help other women through their journey of cancer through Victory in the Valley, a local organization that is very dear to her heart.
Her smile was contagious, her beautiful blue eyes were mesmerizing, her sweet words of wisdom were comforting, her hugs were warming but it’s her servant heart of gold that will live on in each of us.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, William Harper; parents, Ida Mae & Carl Sitzman; brother, Terry Sitzman.
CJ is survived by her daughter Michele Tice and son-in-law Brian Tice of Viola, KS; daughter, Tasha Harper of Wichita, KS; daughter Terri Harper-Rasheed and son-in-law Ibrahim Rasheed of Wichita, KS; grandson Will Tice and granddaughter Emerson Tice of Viola, KS; granddaughters Kadriya & Kaliyah Rasheed and grandson Khalil Rasheed all of Wichita, KS; sister, Linda Herbek of Princeton, KY; sister-in-law, Marlys Sitzman of McCook, NE; furbaby, Bentley; nine nieces and nephews that CJ cared deeply for as well as many great nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Thursday, January 28, 2021, at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary. Funeral Service will be at 1:00 pm, Friday, January 29, 2021, at Risen Savior Lutheran Church.
Memorials have been established with: Risen Savior Lutheran Church and Victory in the Valley.
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When we would visit CJ & Bill, we always had a good time. Bill and Ken were first cousins. They were quite alike . Both enjoyed sports, Bill for Nebraska & Ken Colorado State. We girls always had plenty to talk about. We didn’t get to visit Bill & CJ much as we moved because of work. I will miss Carolyn. May God bless her & may she rest in peace with Bill. God Bless her family & comfort them. A beautiful life lived well.
Prayers and thoughts to your family during this time! Tasha your momma was amazingly sweet. I remember her coming up to the Hill to join in with activities. Sending love to all of you! -Jennifer McNair
CJ was a delightful soul! I’ll remember her as kind, calm, and generous. I always enjoyed her interactions with her daughters knowing how close they were, and somehow feeling like part of the family myself. I’m so sorry for your great loss, Michelle, Terri, and Tasha. I’m thankful that we don’t actually lose something if we know where it is. What a priceless gift of faith she possessed!