Paul R. Wempe, 85, of Seneca, Kansas, died Monday, July 29, 2013 at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka.

He was born on April 4, 1928, to Paul A. and Augusta Voet Wempe on a farm east of Seneca. He graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul High School in 1945. Paul helped his parents on the family farm before entering the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.

On October 10, 1953, Paul married his sweetheart, Rita C. Schraad, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. They moved to El Paso, Texas while Paul was stationed at Fort Bliss, and then to Rapid City, South Dakota when he was transferred to Ellsworth Air Force Base.

After being discharged from the military, Paul worked in Kansas City for General Motors, then for Union Pacific Railroad. In 1957, the couple moved to the Wempe homestead east of Seneca, where they farmed and raised their family. In 1968, they purchased a farm north of Seneca and made it their home.

Throughout this time, Paul continued working for Union Pacific as a switchman and brakeman based in Marysville, Kansas, retiring in 1990. After retirement, he remained active on the farm and enjoyed his hobbies.

Paul was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, the church choir, St. Joseph’s Society at the church, and the 4th degree Ponce de Leon Assembly of the Knights of Columbus Council #1769 in Seneca. He was also a member of the Union Pacific Junior Old Timers.

He enjoyed fishing, playing cards, bowling, dancing, a good joke, and especially singing. If Paul had a signature karaoke song, it would have been “Little Brown Jug,” with his solo a regular feature at family wedding dances. He was also an avid KU basketball fan. Paul and Rita traveled to Europe and Hawaii and made many trips to visit their family. His grandchildren especially filled him with great joy.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Rita, of the home; children, Paul Michael (Madonna) of St. Charles, Illinois, Judy (Joe) Niehues of Corning, Joyce Wempe (Morgan Rettele) of St. Louis, Missouri, Jean Darrah of Topeka, Joan (Dave) Crowder of Lilburn, Georgia and Patrick Wempe of Lawrence; grandchildren, Jessica Darrah, Paul August Wempe, Kate Crowder, Lee Hamlet, Stephen Crowder, and Makenzie Crowder; step-grandchildren, Mike Cohoon, Kevin Cohoon and Jackie Crowder Young; siblings, Ruth Wanless of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, Mary Jane Rochel of Axtell, Clara Lackey of Beloit, Jerry Wempe of Marysville, Rosemary Luebbe of Seneca, Elsie Steck of Mequon, Wisconsin, and Sally Smith of St. Joseph, Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandsons, Joseph Niehues and Wyatt Rettele; and siblings, Mark Wempe, Art Wempe, Marcella Lierz, Betty Haug, and Cleta Harris.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Thursday, August 1, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be on 10 AM Friday, August 2, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be given in remembrance of Paul for the Seneca Veterans Wall, and sent in care of the family.