LeNore Josephine Stumpf, 84, Topeka, formerly of Axtell, died March 9, surrounded by her loving family. She was born Mar. 15, 1932, the daughter of Fred and Tillie (Engelken) Kuckelman, in the Kuckelman farm home southwest of Baileyville, KS.

LeNore graduated from Baileyville High School in 1950, moved to Topeka and was employed at The Menninger Clinic and later at Blue Cross-Blue Shield.

In 1953 she met and married Walter Stumpf, an airman from Long Island, N.Y. They became the parents of six children during their 23 years as an Air Force family. They lived in 7 different states, plus two and a half years in Japan. Following their retirement they moved to Axtell and made their home in the original Axtell Hospital. They were members of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Axtell, and Christ the King Catholic Church in Topeka.

LeNore was also a member of St. Michael’s Guild, the American Legion Auxiliary and was a 20-year member of Kansas Authors club. She wrote local news and photo-feature stories for The Marysville Advocate and The Courier-Tribune in Seneca for 18 years. She continued writing and was published in 28 newspapers and in 10 magazines during her 25-year career. She also published between 150 and 200 poems. She had a life-long interest in writing and learning, so in the mid-1980s she commuted to Kansas State University to study creative writing and literature.

LeNore authored a poetry book, a novel and two humor books. Her third book, “Life, I Think, Is Like A Watermelon”, won the J. Donald Coffin Memorial Award for 2005.

She is survived by her husband, Walter, of the home, and their children and spouses: Barbara (Elias) Pimentel, and Elaine (Richard) Hatch, all of Topeka, Richard (Evan) Stumpf of El Dorado, Brenda (Mike) Leonard of Trenton, Ill, Dan (Diane) Stumpf of Auburn, and Roger (Kim) Stumpf of Salina. She also leaves behind 14 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, and siblings Mary Mueting of Seneca, Rozella Ronnebaum of Axtell, Kathleen Gravenstein and Albert Kuckelman of Topeka. Preceeding her in death were her parents, and brothers Paul, Mark, John, Danny, Freddy, and sister Lucille.

Visitation will be from 6-7, Sunday, March 12 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Axtell, with a rosary following at 7. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 13 with burial in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association sent in care of the funeral home