Valerie Wickstrum

Valerie Lynne Wickstrum, age 78 of Leonardville, passed away Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at the University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus in Topeka.

She was born on December 4, 1945, in Bogue, Kansas, the daughter of Rollie and Dorthy (Berry) Keener. She graduated from Riley County High School in 1964 and never missed a class reunion until her health wouldn’t allow her to attend.

On November 6, 1964, she married Roger W. O’Neill. He preceded her in death in 1984.

She married Veryl Dean Wickstrum on January 2, 1987. He preceded her in death in 2020.

In 1982, she started working at Kansas State University in Ford Hall in housekeeping and then transferred to Vet Med to be a Supervisor at Central Prep until the late 1990’s. She then went to Mercy Hospital as a receptionist at the front desk until retirement. She also spent many years as a daycare provider and parts runner for her first husband, Roger O’Neill. Valerie always looked forward to her many trips with her lifelong friends and her husband Veryl Dean Wickstrum and loved her many trips to the casino.

She is survived by her children, Robert O’Neill of Wamego, Melinda (Mike) Hewitt of Circleville, and Ronald (Jessie) O’Neill of Manhattan; her sisters, Debbie (Greg) Ruggels and Brenda Landrum; her daughter-in-law, Jacquie (Gene) Steinbacher of Wamego; her grandchildren, Cassey (Kipp) Shupe, Roger (Kaeyla) O’Neill, Calley (A.J.) Berry, Russell (Emma) O’Neill, Carley Hewitt, Ryan (Olivia) O’Neill, Jennica (Chase) Carlson, Cody (Megan) O’Neill, and Tanner O’Neill, and her great grandchildren, Cooper Hewitt, Weston Schooler, Macy Berry, Rowdy Berry, Breckyn O’Neill, Austin O'Neill, Kruz Carlson, and Nora O’Neill.

Valerie was preceded in death by her husbands; her parents; one brother, Robert Eldon Keener, and one sister, Vickie Lea Luck.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 17, 2024, at the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in the Grandview Mill Creek Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Leonardville Nursing Home and left in care of the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home.