Larned – JoAnn (Bruntzel) Simmons Selzer, 82, passed away peacefully November 22, 2013 at the Linnwood Park Senior Care home in Meriden, Kansas.
She was born October 21, 1931 in Rozel, KS, the daughter of Alfred and Mildred Ellis Bruntzel. JoAnn was a Pawnee County resident until 1985, when she and her husband, Clyde, sold their beloved Melody Ranch southeast of Larned and moved to Paola, KS to be closer to their children and grandchildren living in the Kansas City area. She had lived in the Kansas City area for 26 years and then spent the last 2 years living in Meriden.
JoAnn’s passions were her family and music. She performed and taught music starting in her teenage years and throughout her life until she was 75. JoAnn instilled her love of music in family, friends and hundreds of students.
While in Larned, she was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Altar Society. She served the parish as the church organist during Sunday Masses for 33 years as well as numerous weddings and memorial services. She also performed with and led many dance bands throughout her life. She was a long time active member of the Li-Ar-Mu Club (Literature-Art-Music) which became the Larned Music Club. Combining her love for music and Clyde’s love for horses, JoAnn became the organist for the professional rodeo circuit in Kansas, playing in venues all over the state.
On June 29, 1949 she married Clyde Simmons, a distinguished WW II veteran and prisoner of war for three and one half years; he passed away April 27, 1986. On September 5, 1992 she married Bob Selzer, in Overland Park, Kansas. Also a distinguished WW II veteran, Bob and JoAnn enjoyed over 10 years together at their beautiful home in Olathe until he passed away on July 2, 2003.
Survivors include: four daughters; Kyle (John) Robinson, Kansas City, Cynthia (Ron) Kurowski, Park Ridge, IL, Peggy (Brent) Murphy, Kansas City and Jeanette (Mark) Mikinski, Salina, two sons; Dennis (Barb) Simmons and Al (Anne) Simmons, both of Kansas City, Bob Selzer’s three daughters; Sharon (Fred) Augustine, Paola, Terri Cramer and Vicki (Duke Neeland) Selzer both of Kansas City, a sister; Sharon Price, Larned, a brother, Eldred (Rosalyn) Bruntzel, Larned, sixteen grandchildren; John, Katie, Meg, Kelly, Matt, Logan, Laura, Dennis, Adam, Maggie, Joe, Brian, Maureen, Brad, Seth, and Travis, two great grandchildren; Jeremiah and Wells.
She was preceded in death by her two husbands and her daughter, Kathryn Simmons, born on July 29th, 1955. Kathy died on November 27, 1956.
Visitation will be from 9:00 am. to 6:00 p.m. Friday; Rosary will be at 6 p.m. Friday at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel; following the rosary, the family will be present to receive visitors from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Funeral Service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned. Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to the Sacred Heart Church or the Larned Music Club in care of the Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.