Jolene's Obituary

Jolene Fern Amthauer was born November 6th, 1957, in Junction City, Kansas, Geary County to Nellie "Lucille" (Blanton) Amthauer and Theodore "Alvin" Amthauer. She silently went to be with them on September 6th, 2025, at Hospice House in Hutchinson, Kansas, Reno County.

Jolene's childhood was spent growing up on the family farm east of Junction City, Ks where she had farm cats and a dog to play with. She was born with Down Syndrome. Special Education Programs were just beginning in a few schools when she became school age. Her mom, being a teacher, knew education would be important for her and enrolled her at Franklin Elementary School's Special Education Program in Junction City, Ks. Her parents were dedicated to driving her the fifteen miles to school and repeating the drive to pick her up each day for eight years. Upon graduating eighth grade Jolene attended grade 9-12 in the Council Grove School district's Special Education Program located at Wilsey, Kansas. She would get on the Dwight route bus at the farm, transfer to the Council Grove High School

bus in Dwight and then transfer to ride the Wilsey High School bus to Wilsey for classes. Coming home she rode the route in reverse. From this schooling she learned to read and write at a moderate grade school level. Reading brought her joy and enhancement to her entire lifetime. Throughout her life many people commented on her ability to read as at that time many Down Syndrome individuals never learned those skills.

Jolene loved her magazines and copied/wrote what was in them into notebooks. She would hoard her magazines and notebooks as her treasures making it challenging to reduce the quantity when cleaning. She was a member of the Clark's Creek 4-H club in Geary County where her favorite project was crafts. She was a member of the Dwight United Methodist Church participating in Sunday school, vacation Bible school and the occasional Christmas play. She enjoyed doing things with her hands. The Junction City Water Department would save the envelopes they received payment in. Jolene would spend hours cutting the stamps from these envelopes and saving them for a missionary project. She also liked to weave yarn.

After turning eighteen and graduating from the Wilsey Special Ed Program she began working at Big Lakes Developmental Center in Manhattan, Kansas. Big Lakes ran a van route to pick up clients which included picking Jolene up and bringing her back to the farm each day. She would do activities such as sorting McCall Patterns for recycling at Big Lakes. She lived with her parents until both passed away. Then she lived with her brother and his family for two years in Hutchinson, Kansas as she participated in TECH's Adult Life Skill Program.

Jolene had a great smile, a cackle in her laugh and a humorous wit in her sayings, which entertained family and her staff. She would surprise everyone with things she would say.

In cooperation with Interfaith Housing Services, Hutchinson, Ks Jolene began living under the management of TECH's Residential Services in a duplex with five other clients. Her involvement in building this duplex will live on as a legacy helping other Special Needs individuals well into future years. Jolene experienced many life enhancing opportunities living with other Special Needs individuals in a very home-like environment. Her family is thankful for TECH's staff's Love and Commitment to her wellbeing for the past 25 years.

Jolene is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her brother Verle Amthauer and wife Marie; Niece - Michelle (Amthauer) Zajac, husband Stephen and their daughter Alexis; and Nephew – Ryan Amthauer.

An open house will be Friday September 26, 2025, from 9:00 am through 3:00 pm, with family present from 1:00 through 3:00 pm, at Old Mission-Heritage Funeral Home 528 N Main St, Hutchinson, Ks 67501. Grave side services will be held Saturday September 27,

2025, at 11:00 am at the Dwight Cemetery 145 S Highway 57, Dwight, Ks 66849. Following the graveside services all are invited for lunch in Jolene's honor and memories shared at the Dwight Community Church 510 7th Street, Dwight Ks 66849.

Memorials can be made to TECH Inc. to support other Special Needs individuals in the Hutchinson, Kansas community in care of the funeral home.

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