Anna Jean Minihan

Anna Jean Minihan, age 84, passed away peacefully on February 22nd, 2023 at Oakley Place in Topeka where she received loving care and support over her last years.  Ann is the daughter of Isabel and Leo Gareis. She was born and raised on a farm near Flush, KS.  Ann graduated from Flush High School in 1955 and attended Benedictine college for one year before moving to Topeka.

She married Maurice Minihan on May 30th, 1960 in Flush Kansas.  Ann and Maurice lived in Topeka where Ann worked for the Santa Fe Railroad for a short time before staying home to raise their 3 children Mauri Ann, Ron and Bill.  After the children were in school, Ann went back to work for the Menninger Foundation as a secretary for Robert Menninger.  Ann was an active member of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church and then joined the Mother Teresa Catholic Church when it was opened in North Topeka.

Ann was a loving wife and mother to Maurice and her 3 children.  She was very community oriented and was very active on various boards in the community including Most Pure Heart and Mother Teresa as well as the YMCA board.  Ann was a 32-year member of the Seaman USD 345 School Board (1977-2009) where she spent many hours helping to improve the quality of education provided to the students by faculty and staff of the Seaman district. She was always approachable by any concerned citizen and was not afraid to speak the truth. Ann always had the best interests of the students at heart while making decisions for the school district, even if some decisions weren't popular. When she retired from the school board in 2009, the room where the board meets was named in her honor and it remains to this day.

Ann could always be found volunteering for various school activities for the kids or taking the kids and their friends to ball games and events. She was always visible at school activities and her outgoing personality was well-liked by both students and staff.

As plans were being made for her funeral services, countless people have come forward to express their gratitude for the difference that Ann made in their life. She was always encouraging others to serve and to better themselves. She was always willing to lend a sympathetic ear to those who were experiencing hardship.

In addition to her family, her legacy was one of service. Service to others before service to self. Time is a precious commodity, but she was always willing to spend it on the people and programs that she deemed important. These actions inspired others to do the same and so her legacy continues.

Ann is proceeded in death by her parents Isabel and Leo, Sisters Maxine Muir and Cleta Saffelder and husband Maurice.

She is survived by a daughter Mauri Ann (Jay) Domer of Topeka; two sons, Ron (Staci) Minihan of Topeka, Bill (Sara) Minihan of Benton, Kentucky; and 5 grandchildren who she was very proud of, Collin (Tawni) Domer,  Ryan(Kelsie) Domer, Morgan (Dane) Simoneau, Sam Minihan, Ethan Minihan and Vivian Minihan;  She had 5 great grandchildren, Hayes and Myles Domer, Maddie and Quinn Simoneau, Oaklynn Domer.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Seaman Education Advantage Foundation or the Mother Teresa Catholic Church and sent in care of the Davidson Funeral Home.  davidsonfuneral.com.