Mary Kathryn Budde Esau

Mary Kathryn Budde Esau, 83, of Newton, died March 17, 2021. She was born Sept. 15, 1937, and grew up on a farm between Walton & Peabody, KS. She attended a one-room country school then Peabody High School. She and Derrill Esau married Aug. 16, 1959. They enjoyed camping and boating with their three children and family; after Derrill’s death in 1988, she also took up woodworking. MK worked as a homemaker, Newton Kansan delivery driver, cook at the old Village Inn (now Curtis C’s), and baker at Druber’s Donuts. She enjoyed animals; gardening; activities as a member of Zion Lutheran Church (including helping with preschool); spending time with neighbors Lorrie and Alvin Neufeld; and seeing her children & grandchildren grow. A Parkinson’s disease patient, she moved to Halstead Health & Rehab in 2012.

She was preceded in death by husband Derrill, parents Mary and Fred Budde, birth mother Inez Byler, grandson Daniel Blaylock, dog companions Bernard, Frisky, Rusty and Lady, and parakeets.

She is survived by children Irvin (Deneene) Esau , Diane (Dennis) Blaylock, and Victor Esau; sister Janice (Gene) Sharp; sister-in-laws Annetta (Bill) Gehring and Geraldine Williams; brother-in-law Kenneth (Lilly) Esau; grandchildren Toni (Jerry) Chastain, Dennis (Sherry) Blaylock, and Bryan (Kristyn) Esau; 3 great-grandchildren; and cousins, nieces & nephews.

Special thanks to Halstead Health & Rehab and Good Shepherd Hospice of Newton for their care.

Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. March 21 & 22 at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. March 23 at Zion Lutheran Church in Newton. Burial will be at Walton Cemetery in Walton, KS. Memorials to Zion Lutheran Church and Caring Hands Humane Society of Newton, in care of Petersen Funeral Home. The service will be streamed on Zion’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Zion-Evangelical-Lutheran-Church-402367333264384.