Mary Evaline Neppl

Mary Evaline Neppl passed away peacefully on December 24th at Overland Park Regional Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas. Mary was born on September 15, 1947, in Springer, New Mexico to Charles Emery and Ruthann (Lawson) Rumbaugh. As a young child, Mary moved with her family from New Mexico to Tempe, Arizona.

She graduated from Tempe High School with the Class of 1965. She enjoyed going to Tempe High basketball games, and would often convince her older sister, Lavada, to take road trips with her to Flagstaff, Yuma, and other cities to watch the team play. After graduating high school, Mary attended Arizona State University studying Education to become a teacher. While in college she met her husband, Thomas Edward Neppl, and they were married in 1968. Mary and Tom lived in Tucson, Marana, and Tempe, Arizona before moving to Wichita, Kansas in 1980 where she raised her three children. Later in life, Mary lived in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Pomona and Ottawa, Kansas.

Mary was an incredibly kind and loving mother who always made time for her children and attended countless recitals, concerts, soccer and baseball games, while also being active in the PTA. All while working full time, as well.

Mary was an avid gardener and loved to spend time in her garden and tending to her many house plants. She truly had a green thumb and rescued several of her kids’ ailing house plants. She greatly enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and was active in bowling and golfing leagues throughout her life. One of her passions was golfing and for the past several years she was Co-President of the Ottawa Women’s Golf Association. The friendships she made with the golf gals in Ottawa gave her incredible joy and comfort in her final years.

Professionally, Mary worked as an office manager and an insurance underwriter for various companies including American Family Insurance and American Fence Company in Wichita, Kansas, and Lockton in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Mary will be remembered fondly by her family which include her husband Tom Neppl of Ottawa, Kansas, her sister Lavada (Rumbaugh) Bartley of Garnett, Kansas, her son Thomas Neppl and his wife, Tricia, of Ames, Iowa, her daughter Tammie (Neppl) Schaffer and her husband, Troy, of Richmond, Kansas, and her son, Travis Neppl and his wife, Jen, of Oxford, Mississippi.  Mary was very proud of her seven grandchildren, including Ashlyn and Michael Neppl of Ames, Iowa, Emma, AJ, Zach, and Sawyer Schaffer of Richmond, Kansas, and Jo Neppl of Oxford, Mississippi.  She also leaves behind many extended family members and friends who will miss her dearly.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to either the American Cancer Society or the American Lung Association c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. 

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