Cecilia Mary Tanking, 92, of Wetmore, KS, died late evening on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka surrounded by her family.

She was born October 17, 1919 on a farm near Le Mars, IA, the daughter of Barney and Mary Rolfes Peppersack. In 1929 the family moved to a farm southwest of Baileyville, KS, where she grew up and attended Sacred Heart School. In 1933 she moved with her family to the St. Bridget community northwest of Axtell.

On January 9, 1940 she married Lawrence F. “Doc” Tanking at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church north of Axtell. They lived and farmed southeast of Oneida until 1953, when they moved to a farm north of Seneca. In 1956, they moved to a farm southeast of Wetmore. The couple retired in 1977 and moved to Wetmore. They enjoyed 57 years of marriage before Lawrence’s death on July 29, 1997.

She was a parishoner and sacristan at St. James Catholic Church in Wetmore and a member St. Ann’s Altar Society at the church. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Wetmore.

Cecilia loved having her family around and always offered a cinnamon roll or some other sweet treat that she baked. Her activities were making cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, pies, cookies and cakes. She also made a quilt for each of her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by six sons, Donald (Barbara) Tanking of Topeka, Larry (Alberta) Tanking of Holton, Gerald (Denise) Tanking of St. Marys, Kenneth (Louise) Tanking of Netawaka, Randall (Alice) Tanking of Wetmore and Richard Tanking of Sabetha; two daughters, Mary Lou (John) Cheray of Topeka and Berneta (Dean) Shults of Topeka; 27 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband she was preceded in death by a son James on February 5, 1988; two brothers, Frank and Henry “Hank” Peppersack; and three sisters, Rosa Linda Latus, Frances Stallbaumer and Philomina Fangman.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 AM Monday, March 19, at St. James Catholic Church in Wetmore. Burial will be in the Wetmore Cemetery. A visitation will be held at 2 PM Sunday at St. James Church, with a rosary at the church to follow at 3 PM. She will lie in state until 1 PM Sunday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given in Cecilia’s memory for the Sabetha Nemaha County Training Center, sent in care of the family.