Anthony F. “Tony” Spielman, 88, of Seneca, KS, died Thursday, September 13, 2001, at Countryview Estates care home in Seneca.

He was born December 14, 1912 , on a farm south of Seneca, the son of Anthony J. and Christine Strathman Spielman. He attended a rural school and Sts. Peter & Paul School in Seneca. He helped on the family farm and later farmed his own land.

On January 5, 1935, he married Josephine Stegeman at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Church in Kansas City, MO. His wife Josephine survives of Seneca. They lived and farmed in the Centralia community until they moved to a farm south of Oneida, KS, in 1949. In 1958 they moved to a farm west of Seneca, and Tony started custom combining from Oklahoma to South Dakota until 1979. They moved into Seneca in 1969. Tony and Josephine celebrated their 50th wedding aniversary in 1985, and had been married for 66 years.

He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church and the St. Joseph Society at the church in Seneca.

Survivors besides his wife Josephine are a son, Donald Spielman of Prairie Village, KS; two daughters, Shirley Beets of Kansas City, MO and Nancy Severin of Topeka; five sisters, Olivia Numrich of Shawnee Mission, KS, Frances Robbins and Vera Cox, both of Cheney, KS, Mildred Lackey of Seneca, and Luella Hinton of Fayetteville, AR; 17 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Betty Fisher on August 2, 1995; a granddaughter, Kimberly Brown in 1958; a brother, Leo J. Spielman; and a sister, Mary Murphy.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 AM Monday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A rosary will be prayed at 2 PM Sunday, with a vigil prayer service at 7 PM Sunday, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul School, and sent in care of the family.