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Samuel Kenneth "Sam" Alexander Jr.

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Topeka High School University of Kansas

Samuel Alexander Obituary

Alexander, Jr. Samuel Kenneth Sam Alexander, Jr., 86, died on Friday, April 23, 2010 at his home. Born on October 7, 1923, Sam was a lifelong resident of Topeka. Sam married Carolyn Kline on August 31, 1946, and they celebrated 48 years of marriage before Carolyn passed away on May 8, 1994. Sam is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Ken and Pam Alexander and Kevin and Nancy Alexander of Topeka. He leaves three grandsons; Samuel Kenneth S.K. Alexander, IV of Topeka, Kevin Burnett Alexander, Jr. (Emily) of Stamford, Connecticut and Samuel Scott Alexander (Jacquelyn) of Omaha, Nebraska, and his companion, Liz Stratton. Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Kenneth and Helen Welty Alexander, and his sister, Virginia Alexander Allison. Sam graduated from Topeka High School in 1941. He served in the Army for two and a half years before completing his degree at the University of Kansas in 1947 where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. Sam was President and owner of Alexander Brothers Baking Company. He was a longstanding board member of the W.E. Long Company, an independent baking association. Sam was a member of First Presbyterian Church, served as a director of First National Bank of Topeka and BANK IV of Topeka, a board member and past Chair of Stormont Vail HealthCare and Chairman of the Topeka Chamber of Commerce. Sam enjoyed his many years of membership at the Topeka Country Club where he served on the board and was a past President. Sam will lie in state from 3:00 7:00 PM on Tuesday, April 27th at the Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Ave., Topeka, KS 66604, where the family will receive friends from 4:30 6:30 PM. Funeral services will be private. On Wednesday, April 28th, friends and family are invited to a reception from 4:30 7:30 PM at the Topeka Country Club. Sams family wishes to express their deep appreciation to his caregivers, Barbara Hennemann, Olantha Lynn Brown and Ruby Chappell. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sam and Carolyn Alexander Fund at the Topeka Community Foundation, 5431 SW 29th Street, Topeka, KS., 66614. To leave the family a special message, visit www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com. Samuel K. Alexander, Jr.

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Published by Topeka Capital-Journal from Apr. 24 to Apr. 25, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Samuel Alexander

20 Entries

Mark Scott

April 18, 2019

Sammy was my father's friend from their high school days. During his high school years, he along with other boys traveled to an out-of-state location (don't remember where) and drove a newly purchased bus to Topeka for the Scott Jayhawk Bus Line. He was probably the funniest adult I knew while growing up, once jokingly telling me that my auto insurance would probably be cheaper if I took the raccoon tail off my antenna. Sammy gave me some very responsible jobs when I was at an age when many people wouldn't trust kids. One summer I drove the Butter Crust transport truck by myself from Topeka to Manhattan from midnight to 8 a.m. In those days, pay was very good ($2.50/hour). Didn't have to join the Teamsters' Union for this job. He never worried that I might be smoking dope or taking my girlfriend along while doing this work. (I never did drugs.)

Sam and Carolyn frequent summer guests at the Scott house at Okoboji. He always brought loaves of Butter Crust bread with him!

May 3, 2010

Kevin and Ken: I was very sorry to learn of your loss of your Dad. He was a great person and a long time friend. My deepest condolences. Regards, Larry Munns

May 2, 2010

Liz,Ken,and Kevin,Im soo sad to hear of sam's death sam was like a grandpa to me!! I always loved him soo much. When Walt called me and told me the news I almost dropped to my knees but my SamBoo would have said be happy never sad!!! I just want everyone to know when I had my daugher two years ago Sam was so excited more than my own family He always made me feel soo special :) Sam WILL BE FOREVER MISSED

Love,
Jessica Marker & Alexis Rupp

April 29, 2010

Dear Alexander family,
I'm sad to think that Sammy isn't among us anymore. He was a sweetheart. I loved riding from the Zimmermans' 4th-of-July picnic to the fireworks at the club in Sam's convertible! Reading about his passing reminds me of the Wigwam group and all the great stories I heard from my mom & dad. It's the end of an era.
--Betsy Leonard (Libby & Stan's daughter)

Marlene Donahue

April 28, 2010

Although I didn't know Sam personally, I frequently saw him at McFarland's Restaurant as it was a favorite hangout for each of us. Sam always gave me a nod of recognition and slight smile when he saw me. I will miss seeing him there. May God Bless Sam and his family.

Dick Thornburg

April 28, 2010

Ken and Kevin
Sorry for your loss, the Chairman well be missed by all.
Best Regards,
Dick T.

Bill Adkins

April 27, 2010

Dear Ken and Kevin,
You have my sincere sympathy. Your dad was one of the great ones. I always considered him a friend and enjoyed his light banter when negotiating a CD rate at the bank or playing golf with him. I'll always remember his drives off the 17th tee. He always hit out over 27th street and drew it back to the fairway. Sometime when the draw didn't work he muttered that he was taking the short cut to Baughman's Ice Cream Factory. I enhoyed visiting with him recently at "his table" in the Grill Room to catch up on things. Sam was always a very pleasant and happy gentleman and will be missed by all.
With Warm Personal Regards,
Bill

April 26, 2010

Dear Ken and Kevin,
So sorry for the loss of your Dad. What a loss for your family, but also to our community. We will never forget when our Dad closed the Jordan Sunbeam Bakery, Sam hired most all of his employees. Dad was forever grateful to Sam!! What a kind and generous person he was to everyone.
Perhaps, they are back discussing the "bread business."

With our deepest sympathy to both of you and the Alexander family.

Julie Jordan Friedstrom
Jenny Jordan Hejtmanek
G.Lester Jordan Jr.

Jeff Dishman

April 26, 2010

Kevin, Ken and all the Alexander family: I always enjoyed seeing and visiting with Sam in the Men's grill at TCC. It was always great to see him setting in "his chair" downstairs. Always quick with a kind word and to ask how you were doing. We will all miss him.

Carolyn Francis

April 26, 2010

Ken and Pam,

I was saddened to hear of Sammy's passing. I am glad to hear that Sam was able to stay in his home right until the end...that must have made him happy. Pam, we were just talking about his health on Wed. Sometimes things move very quickly, but now he can be at Peace.

May the Lord Blesss you and keep you. With much love and sympathy...

April 25, 2010

My deepest condolences Alexander Family.
~Margaret Mullen

April 25, 2010

Dear Sam Alexander Family - Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. There was always a Sam Alexander and Bill Palmer story to be told.
Take care,
The Bill Palmer children
Gail Perry, Bill J Palmer and Kerry Hallmark

George Tatum

April 25, 2010

Kevin,
Sorry to read about your dad's passing. Sam was always ready to tell a good story. He will be missed.

DONNA RAE ADAMS

April 25, 2010

DEAR KEN AND KEVIN,
I HAVE ENJOYED THE FRIENDSHIP OF YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR FATHER. I SEND MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
FONDLY,
DONNA ADAMS

April 25, 2010

Ken, Kevin and Liz: I have missed seeing Sam the last few years like I used to. I always looked forward to seeing him and hearing his "stories". I considered him a good friend. Love and prayers to you all. Judy Gatewood

April 25, 2010

Sam always asked me how i was doing. He was a people person.
Paul Patterson

Karen Ford

April 24, 2010

I will never forget how lucky I felt as a child to have my personal "Uncle Sam." He always had a kind word for his nieces and nephew and a twinkle in his eye. He will be missed, but I love to think of him reunited with Aunt Carolyn in heaven.

Mark Scott

April 24, 2010

I was saddened to learn of Sam's death. For a good many years, Sam and Carolyn were close friends of my parents, Lee and Ted Scott. In fact, the Alexanders were frequent guests at the family summer home at Lake Okoboji.

When I was 18, Sammy gave me a summer job of considerable responsibility--driving the bread transport truck from the Topeka bakery to the Manhattan depot. My job was to drive this large truck to the depot, then unload all the trays of bread. The bread was delivered to Manhattan grocery stores the following day. No delivery, no bread.

My hours were midnight to 8:00 a.m. I was completely on my own. I unloaded the bread on my own, then returned to Topeka in an empty truck. The pay was $2.75/hour, which was fantastic in 1967.

I would return to Topeka during a prairie sunrise, a glorious sight I will never forget.

Today, I suspect that many employers would hesitate to give a job of this responsibility to an 18-year-old male whose friends were often partying during the early hours of a summer morning. Sammy never gave it a second thought as far as I was concerned. He offered me the job without hesitation. And he thanked me for my work.

My deepest condolences to the family.

April 24, 2010

Ken & Kevin: My deepest sympathy. Sam was a friend for a long time and I shall miss him.
Loehr Rigby

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