Dorothy Minegar

Dorothy Louise Minegar, 96, Lenexa, KS, passed away at her home Saturday, September 29th, 2018, with family by her side.  A celebration of life Open House will be held at the home on Sunday, October 7th, 2018; from Noon until 4 PM.

Dorothy was born to Guy and Reba (Purdy) Wilkins in Allegan, Michigan on December 30, 1921.  Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Verlyn Minegar in 1987, her younger siblings Helen Barton (Otsego, MI), Elaine Johnson (Otsego, MI) and Eugene Wilkins (Baldwin, MI).  Dorothy graduated from Otsego High School where she met the love of her life Verlyn Minegar.

Verlyn and Dorothy were united in marriage in 1941.  Verlyn entered the Army in 1942.  Throughout World War II, Dorothy traveled to be near her husband as much as she could while he was in the service and worked and lived in many places.  Dorothy met new people along the way with many becoming life-long friends.  In her senior year of high school, Dorothy worked for Doctors (a husband and wife team) and lived with them in Otsego, MI, making house calls with them.  During the war and while her husband was overseas, Dorothy found jobs in drug stores, clothing stores, banking and also was a “Rosie the Riveter” at times working in factories making airplane parts.  Dorothy’s most- favorite job was in banking.

After the War, Dorothy and Verlyn moved to Kansas and fell in love with Kansas City.  Verlyn worked for the Kansas City School District and Dorothy worked for Johnson County National Bank and Trust Company in Prairie Village, Kansas.   Dorothy and Verlyn enjoyed twenty years of marriage before they had a child, a daughter.  Once their child was born, Dorothy became a stay-at-home mother and enjoyed that for twelve years before returning to banking and remained working until her retirement in 1987.

Dorothy was a positive and caring woman and seemed to find the best in everyone she met, tossing out the negative and finding a bright side in almost every situation.

Survivors include daughter Julie Minegar-Stasi and son-in-law Dominick Stasi of Lenexa, Kansas.  Grandson Kyle Butler and wife Michelle Butler (Lenexa, KS), Grandson Ross Butler and Jessica Hill (Cleveland, GA), Granddaughter Tanya Swift and husband Billy Swift (Kansas City, KS), Grandson Pat Stasi (Roeland Park), Great Grandchildren Kayden Butler, McKenzie Butler, Fernando Cardenas & wife Abigail, Shawn Swift, Sarah Swift, Indaca Stasi, Great-Great Grandchildren Avery Swift, Grayson Morman, Leilani Cardenas.  Survivors also include Sister-in-Law Barbara Minegar-Cornhill (Harold) of Cheboygan, MI, Nephew Steven Johnson (Jan) of Bokchito, OK, Niece Carol Haworth Price (Edward) of Prairie Village, Kansas, many nieces and nephews, Goddaughters, Sharon Minor Bolyard (Tommy), Kathy Minor Selig (Rick) and Melissa Minor Lewis of Topeka along with extended Topeka Family.

A special shout out to people that helped care for and enrich Dorothy’s life in one way or another during her senior years:  a special Thank You to son-in-law Dominick Stasi for allowing her to hang out with him during his “retirement”, friend Elizabeth Hotzler, Selma Merriott, The McAvoy Family, Dr. Joe Ramsey, Dr. Radhika Mathur, Dr. Dominique Crain, Dr. Bernard Levy (Retired), Dr. Rachel Sosland, Dr. Anthony Marengo, Jr., Dr. Allen Jetmore, Dr. Bruce Graham, Dr. Stephen Stechschulte, Dr. Sarah Russell, Dr. Stephen Smalley.

Private cremation and burial provided by Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas, 66210.

The family suggests donations to Kansas City Hospice, kchospice.org or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, stjude.org.