Eleanor V Peterson Hejtmanek

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Obituary- Hejtmanek, Eleanor

Eleanor V. Hejtmanek
Eleanor V. Peterson Hejtmanek died peacefully on Tuesday, January 16,2018, at the age of 97 in Topeka, Kansas. She was born June 9,1920, to John G. and Tynne H. Peterson of Frederick, South Dakota, the third of five children. She graduated from Frederick High School in 1937. After completing Business College in Chillicothe, Missouri, Eleanor worked for Farmland Industries and Fluor Corporation in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1945, she assisted in interviewing U.S. prisoners of war in preparation for the Nuremberg trials while she was with the Civil Service, Security Intelligence Division, Camp Butner, North Carolina. She worked for Topeka Presbyterian Manor from 1967-1980.

Eleanor married Charles Clayton Hejtmanek on September 24,1944. After her husband retired from military service in 1945, they lived in Coffeyville, Kansas, until 1955 when they moved to Topeka, Kansas.

She was a member of Central Presbyterian Church, Topeka, where she served as Deacon and was a member of the Women’s Association. Eleanor loved spending time with family and friends and cooking and hosting large family dinners and get-togethers. Eleanor and Clayton both enjoyed gardening and traveling together.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her loving husband of 64 years, C. Clayton Hejtmanek; parents, brother, Arnold Peterson, and sisters Jeanette Lund, Dorothy Nelson and Denise Grohnke. She is survived by her children Vicki Fordyce, Sugar Land, TX; Stephen (Judith) Hejtmanek, Topeka; and Kathy (Chris) Stiles, Overland Park, KS; grandchildren Kelly Fordyce; Charles (Rain) Fordyce; Harlow (Cheryl) Schmidt; Allen (Janie) Schmidt; and great grandchildren Chas and Hugh Fordyce; Graham, Griffin and Olivia Schmidt; Evan and Dana Schmidt; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

On Monday, January 22, a visitation will be held from 4 pm to 6 pm at the Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel. On Tuesday, January 23, a memorial service will be held in the Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel at 10:30 am, immediately followed by a reception for family and friends at the same location. A private family burial will be at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery before the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Helping Hands Humane Soci¬ety, Inc., 5720 SW 21st St, Topeka, KS 66604; Arthritis National Research Foundation, 5354 East 2nd St, Suite 201, Long Beach, CA 90803; or the charity of your choice. To leave a message for the family online, please visit www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com.