Orpha LeRoy-Wretling

https://youtu.be/UiyMq-lFzCI

Orpha Wretling, 90, passed in peace on Nov. 18, 2021 at Leisure Homestead, Stafford, KS.

She was born on March 13, 1931 to Theodore F. and Hulda L. (Alpers) Witt in

Great Bend, Kansas. Orpha was preceded in death by both of her parents, an

infant brother, Vernon Witt; sisters Veleta (Witt) Mueller and Cleora (Witt)

Francis and brother Norman Witt. She is survived by her children and step-

children---daughter Kathy (Jerry) Hinde of Windsor, Colorado; son Mike (Jessie)

LeRoy of St. John, Kansas; daughter Kristy (Mark) Moore of Eaton, Colorado;

daughter Karen (Fred) Westhusin of Plainville, Kansas; Chuck (Betty) Wretling of

Littleton, Colorado; Dee Dannenberg of Overland Park, Kansas and Mark (Sandra)

Wretling of Salina, Kansas. She enjoyed 13 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren

and her beloved nieces and nephews.

Orpha graduated from St. John High School in 1949. After high school she pursued

her nursing degree from St. Rose Nursing School in Great Bend, Kansas. She

graduated in 1952 as a Registered Nurse—a career she enjoyed and pursued over

the next 40 years in various small hospitals and clinics in Kansas.

She married Kenneth R. LeRoy in June of 1952. During their 22 years of marriage

they resided in Great Bend, Kansas, El Paso, Texas, Fairbanks, Alaska and Seward,

Kansas. Their early years of marriage took them to Texas and Alaska as part of

Ken’s military duties. Together they had 4 children. They divorced in 1974.

In 1976 Orpha married Rev. Charles E. Wretling in Hutchinson, Kansas. They

blended a family of 7 children with 2 still at home. Together, they continued to

work in his vocation of Methodist ministry for about 20 years living in 4 small

towns in central and western Kansas until they retired in 1992. Prior to retirement

they purchased their retirement home in March, 1976 in Wilson Lake Estates in

Florissant, Colorado. Over several years they made this mountain cabin into their

own beloved home entertaining many family gatherings.

In 2008 Orpha and Charles sold their mountain home and moved to Fort Collins,

Colorado to enjoy life at the Worthington Independent Living facility. They were

available for more family events and made new friends over the next 5 years.

Charles passed away in December of 2013. For another change, Orpha moved into

the Good Samaritan Independent Living in Windsor the spring of 2015. She

enjoyed meeting new friends and the many activities at Good Sam for 3 years.

She renewed interest in her hobbies of sewing, knitting and reading books. In the

summer of 2018 she moved in with her 2 Colorado daughters with help from

extended family. For 15 months she split each week between their homes in

Windsor and Eaton. When it came time for assisted living, we found The Bridge @

Greeley. She moved in Labor Day weekend 2019. Her stay here was brief because

of a fall in December, 2019 which required hospitalization. Skilled nursing care

was needed next and she was blessed to move back to Kansas into Leisure

Homestead. Having family there and being back in the county she was raised in,

was comforting.

A Celebration of Orpha’s life will be held on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021 at Hudson Community

Church, Hudson, Kansas at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to

Hudson Community Church or Kindred Hospice of Hutchinson. Online

condolences may be made at www.minnischapel.net.