Emily S. Dodge, 97, formerly of Rossville and Delia passed away Saturday, July 23, 2016 at the Presbyterian Manor in Topeka.
She was born April 15, 1919 in a small log cabin south of Delia the daughter of Ignac and Veronica Hejtmanek Horak. She graduated from Goldenrod Country School and from Delia High School in 1937.
Emily worked in Topeka for a few years and in 1959 started working at the Delia Post Office, after 20 years of service she retired in 1979. She and her husband Leonard farmed in the Delia community. She helped raise hogs and cattle and raised a garden.
They lived in the Delia community from 1946 until their farm sale in June 2004 when they moved to Rossville. They later moved to Topeka. She was a member of the Delia Presbyterian Church. Emily graduated from the Menninger Bible Course many years ago. One of the highlights of her life was when she and Leonard along with some of her siblings and their spouses took an 18 day trip to Czechoslovakia to visit relatives and to see the homeland.
On September 1, 1940 she was united in marriage to Leonard Dodge in Topeka. He preceded her in death on February 11, 2011. She was also preceded in death by her parents, five siblings and two grandsons.
Survivors include her son, Jim (Janet) Dodge, Rossville; her daughter, Joanne (Mike) Bruce, Huntsville, TX.; two sisters, Irene Collett, Washington and Esther Wehner Rossville; four grandchildren; David (Colleen) Dodge, Karen (Jerry) Manhart, Kevin Bruce and Stehphanie Bruce, great-grandchildren, Casey, Darrin and Danielle Dodge, Abbie and Chad Manhart, Maddison, Regan, Damian and Malcom Bruce and a great-great-grandson Adam Boudreau; many nieces and nephews
Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, July 28, 2016 at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys. Interment will be in the Delia Cemetery. Mrs. Dodge will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Delia Presbyterian Church, The Good Samaritan Fund at the Presbyterian Manor or Grace Hospice and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, Kansas 66536.