Emma M. Rethman, 94, of Seneca, KS, died Wednesday, November 7, 2001, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. She was transferred there from Crestview Manor care home in Seneca where she had been a resident since May of this year.

She was born January 8, 1907, on a farm north of St. Benedict, KS, the daughter of Bernard and Bernadine Wahrenfeld Enneking. She grew up there and attended a rural school.

On October 2, 1929, she married A.J. “Tony” Rethman at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. She was a homemaker. They farmed in the Baileyville area until 1957, moved to Topeka in 1958, and returned to Seneca in 1966. Her husband Tony preceded her in death on May 8, 1972. Emma moved back to Topeka in 1984, and returned to Seneca this May.

She was also preceded in death by a son, Norman Rethman on April 29, 1982; a daughter, Karylee Schiffelbein on September 18, 1999; a granddaughter, Lori Rethman on March 17, 1976; three brothers, Henry, Frank, and Louis Enneking; and four sisters, Bertha Droge, Mary Blocker, Katie Macke, and Rose Luckeroth.

Emma was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church and St. Ann’s Altar Society at the church in Seneca. She was a former member of Sacred Heart Church at Baileyville, where she had served as president of the Altar Society, and a former member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Church in Topeka.

Survivors are three sons, Ken Rethman of Seneca, Jerry Rethman and Jim Rethman, both of Topeka; two daughters, Patricia Buser and Betty Blankenship-Smarker, both of Topeka; 19 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, two great great grandchildren and two-step great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 AM Friday, November 9, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Baileyville. A prayer service will be held at 2 PM Thursday, with a rosary at 7 PM Thursay, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital or Sacred Heart Cemetery, and sent in care of the family.