Sylvia “Sue” Vanwye

Sylvia Sue VanWye died Monday, April 1, 2013, 12:07 p.m. at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, KS.  Cause of death was C-diff and Parkinson’s.

She was born on November 10, 1941 in Argonia, KS.  Sue grew up on a farm outside Helena, OK.

Sue graduated from Wichita North HS.  She attended nursing school in St. Louis, married Rafael Cepeda, had two daughters and moved to Barranquilla, Colombia, before returning to Wichita and completing her nurse’s training.  After beginning her nursing career with Sedgwick Co. Health Dept., Sue married Ken Kallenbach in 1972 and had one son.  Sue received a BS degree from Oklahoma City University.  Her nursing career included psychiatric nursing at Central OK Community Mental Health Center in Norman, OK and public health nursing at San Diego Co. Public Health Clinic in San Diego, CA.  While at San Diego Public Health, Sue was involved in the initial awareness and education surrounding HIV-AIDS.  Sue’s nursing career ended back in Wichita with Sedgwick Co. Health Dept.

Sue enjoyed painting, gardening and growing orchids.  She was an avid tennis player, and enjoyed nature and the outdoors.  Sue took joy in being involved in the lives of her grandchildren.   She was raised Southern Baptist, and prayer and spirituality were very important to her.

Sue is predeceased by her father, Boyd VanWye.  She is survived by her mother Martha VanWye Welch, two daughters, Gina Lynn Cepeda (husband Richard Hill) and Martha Jane Cepeda-Backhus (husband Gregory Backhus), son Grady Kallenbach, three grandchildren Rachel DeVore, Thomas Ryan DeVore, and Warren Backhus, sister Beverly Kay (VanWye) Hughes (husband Jim Hughes), and two brothers Dick VanWye (wife Marj VanWye) and Bob VanWye (wife Zeta VanWye.)

A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 12, 2013, at 1:00 p.m. at Unity Church of Wichita, 2160 N. Oliver, Wichita.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oxfam America, 226 Causeway Street, 5th floor, Boston, MA 02114 (www.oxfamamerica.org) or National Parkinson Foundation Heartland, 8900 State Line Rd, Ste 320, Leawood, KS 66206 (www.parkinsonheartland.org ).