Susan Anne Gelvin

Susan Anne Gelvin, our darling daughter, was born in Denver, CO on May 28, 1983. The joy that she brought into our lives is immeasurable. Susan’s childhood was spent in Lawrence where she brought delight into the lives of grandparents, Laskowski and Gelvin.

She attended Broken Arrow Elementary School, South Junior High and Lawrence High School from which she graduated in 2001. She attended both KSU and KU graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies and a Master’s Degree with Honors in Urban Planning. During her career she worked for the Doña Anna County Government in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and since 2013 for the City of Topeka’s Planning Department. She took great pride in her work and her ability to communicate with the various community groups and individuals in preparing neighborhood plans for their improvement. Her stories of meetings and people were a delight to us.

Her passions in life were family, horses, crafts and camping. It was during her most recent trip to Rocky Mountain National Park that she became injured. She was always a champion of anyone who needed help or healing from being a regular blood donor to ultimately becoming an organ donor, Susan constantly strived to make the world a better place. But now, she is together again with Grandma, Big Ski, and her beloved cats, Tigger and Fluffy. The extent of her good heart and love of life cannot be described.
She belonged to the American Planning Association and was a Life Member of the NRA. She attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Church since returning to Topeka.

Survivors include her parents Joann and Ralph Gelvin, Jr.; her brother, Matthew Gelvin; her grandparents, Donna and Ralph Gelvin, Sr.; aunts, Barbara Kosalka, Carolyn Jensen, Carol Laskowski, Sharylyn Lacey; uncles, Charles and Mike Laskowski, Stan Kosalka; and eight cousins. Her grandparents, Charles “Big Ski” and Anna Laskowski preceded her in death.

Mass of Christian Burial for Susan will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 30, 2016 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.

A Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. with a visitation to follow until 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 29th at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.

Memorial donations can be sent to the Topeka Rescue Mission or St. Joseph’s Germanfest Fund and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.