Patricia Jean Tolberd
Patricia Jean Tolberd went to be with Jesus on the morning of Saturday, May 31st, 2025. She was 90 years old. She was born on July 17, 1934 to Harry and Alma (née Kolling) Rusk in Chapman, Kansas. She grew up in Wichita, Kansas, and went to work for Boeing at the age of 18 as the mail girl. She drove a mail-cart through the Boeing factories, delivering mail and notes to different departments. She met Grant Tolberd on January 21, 1954 and they were married on April 2, 1954. She opted not to get married on April 1st, saying she wasn't going to be an April Fool. They raised three children in the same home that they built new in 1958 and she continued to live in it up until she passed. Grant worked in the aviation industry throughout his career and both he and Patty became avid travelers, flying all over the world and instilling a love of travel in each of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved anticipating whatever trip they were going to take, then enjoyed taking it, and then loved remembering it and telling everyone about it after they returned home. She went to work as the birth registrar for St. Joseph hospital and registered every baby born there for nearly thirty years. She enjoyed talking about the unique baby names that patients chose for their newborn children. She loved to give gifts and she adored the season of Christmas, decorating the whole house, and celebrating every minute of it. She and Grant purchased a property at Table Rock Lake in 1974 and gradually improved upon it over the years, packing in family and friends and making wonderful memories. She made shish-kebabs, pork chops, fried chicken, the best potato salad and lemon cream pie. She had a fantastic collection of dishes and always liked to say that she never met a dish that she didn't love. She enjoyed antiquing and shopping and had a deep love of romance novels. She loved sparklers during the 4th of a July and she was thrilled every year when Spring came and everything started getting green again. Her grandkids and great-grandkids were the joy of her life and she celebrated every accomplishment and always came to every graduation and wedding. She always loved a good party and she brought fun into everything that she was a part of. She lived a full and rich life and was a joy to everyone she met.Her husband, Grant, preceded her in death in 2023 after nearly 70 years together. She is survived by her children, Susan (Douglas) Steel, Lawrence, KS; Janet Brennan, Kansas City, MO; Jeffrey (Liz Ann) Tolberd, Wichita, KS; her grandchildren, Elizabeth (Deric) Goss, Shell Knob, MO; Melissa (Justin) Bourgeois, Bellevue, NE; William (Jin) Steel, Melissa, TX; Adam (Amber) Brennan, Smithville, MO; Allison (Steven) Young, Columbia, MO; Menley Brennan, Seattle, WA; Ellie (Johnny) Tolberd Brown, North Kansas City, MO; Fr. Jonathan Tolberd, Pittsburg, KS; Olivia Tolberd, Lee's Summit, MO, and eleven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, J. Darlene Cox, and two brothers, Robert (Dian) Rusk and Kenneth (Elaine) Rusk, all of Wichita, two sisters-in-law, Marjory Fleming, and JoAnn Probach, both of Mankato, MN, along with many nieces, nephews and extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Jerry Rusk, two brothers-in-law, Wendell Fleming and Robert Probach, and an infant granddaughter, Sarah Steel.Viewing will be from 5:00 - 8:00 pm, Thursday, June 5, 2025; Funeral Service will be at 9:00 am, Friday, June 6, 2025, both at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Graveside Service will follow at 11:00 am, at Kansas Veterans' Cemetery, Winfield, KS, where she will be laid to rest with Grant.A memorial has been established with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105.
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Patty was the only birth registrar I ever knew or worked with during my 26 years at St. Joseph. Since both of us retired, my only contacts have been at our annual Christmas luncheons that she started with an evening party at “Corky’s” (as we knew him) and her house. The last luncheon was in 2024. She will rest in peace but will be missed by many OB nurses over the years. Marge Wortz, RN