Donald Eugene Hrenchir, Sr., 97, of Topeka, KS, formerly of Hoyt, KS, passed away surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at the Aldersgate Assisted Living Community, Topeka, KS.
He was born October 22, 1927 in Emmett, KS. He was the firstborn son of Raphael L. and Marcella (Haug) Hrenchir, and was brother to five siblings. Don was raised on a farm in Emmett, where he and his brother Raphael shared a red wagon called “Waggy,” and where he rode his black horse Daisy while racing other boys from neighboring farms. He attended Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School, and Emmett High School. He graduated from high school in 1945 and then attended Brown Mackie School of Business in Salina for six months. He was employed by Santa Fe Trail Transportation Co. for more than 40 years, mostly in Topeka, KS, though also in Emporia and Kansas City, KS.
Don married his true love Clara Dolores (Dee) Stein on October 18, 1952 at Assumption Catholic Church in Topeka. The two met at Assumption while singing in the church choir and were married for 67 years before she died in 2020. Survivors include his six children, Donald Hrenchir, Jr., Auburn; Edward L. Hrenchir (Hilda), Newton; Philip Hrenchir (Donna), Lawrence; Cynthia Beall (Raymond), Baldwin City; Barbara Kotlinski (Edward), Erie, CO, and Paul Hrenchir (Kristin), Longmont, CO; fifteen grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren; a brother, Walter Hrenchir, Topeka, KS, and a sister Mary Teresa Hrenchir, Apache Junction, AZ.
Family for Don was always important and he, along with Dee, would enjoy their many visits with family. Together they lived, farmed and raised livestock for more than 60 years in the Hoyt, KS area, fulfilling Don’s boyhood dream to be a farmer. Don was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church during those years and charter member of Mayetta Knights of Columbus Council No. 9535. Community minded, he was also a member of various farming organizations and served on a committee that helped organize the building of the Community Center building in Hoyt, KS. Don enjoyed playing the piano and the guitar, and played “You are My Sunshine” on the piano into his late 90s. From his youth, he greatly enjoyed traveling and made it to all 50 U.S. states and various countries.
He will lie in state from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hoyt on Friday, June 13th, where visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, June 14th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Mayetta, KS, with interment in St. Joseph Cemetery at Hoyt. Memorials are suggested to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, and may be sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 280, Hoyt, KS 66440.
