Eleanor Tangeman McMindes, 91, died Tuesday April 19, 2022, at The Cedars in McPherson, Kansas.
She was born February 15, 1931 on her family farm in Adams, Nebraska
to Gerd and Tena Aden. She married Jack Tangeman on June 1, 1952, in
Wymore, Nebraska. He preceded her in death on April 30, 1982. She
married Delos “Jim” McMindes on July 5, 2008, in Hays, Kansas.
Eleanor dreamed of becoming a teacher since she was a child growing
up in Nebraska. She started her career in education in a one-room school
teaching grades K-8 in Gage County, Nebraska. She earned a B.S., M.S.,
and Ed.S degree from Fort Hays State University. She spent 38 years
as an elementary and Title I reading teacher in Hays and Russell and was
a part-time instructor at Fort Hays State University. She held
leadership positions in the Kansas National Education Association,
Kansas Reading Association, Phi Kappa Phi, Delta Kappa Gamma Society,
Hays Christian Women's Club and Kansas Blue Cross Blue Shield Advisory
Board and many more.
Her passion for education was evident in the various awards she
received throughout her career. In 2000, she was awarded the Fort Hays
State University - Cunningham Award from Phi Delta Kappa. This award
was a peer-based award for outstanding contribution to education. She
was inducted into the Kansas Teacher’s Hall of Fame in 2007. Her truly
proudest moments were when former students took the time to reach out
and tell her what a difference she made in their lives.
She loved to travel and she visited every state in the US and every
continent except Antarctica with her dear friend Eloise Miller. She
loved to bring back educational materials from various trips to share
with her classroom students. One of her favorite trips was an
educational exchange program with a university in China.
After she retired from teaching, Eleanor never slowed down long
enough to let any grass grow under her feet. She joined her local
chapter of AARP. She organized senior events and lobbied in Topeka for
causes impacting Kansas seniors. She enjoyed participating in AARP
events with her husband Jim. In 2017, Jim and Eleanor were awarded the
AARP Ann Garvin Award for Excellence in Community Service.
Survivors include her husband, Jim McMindes, McPherson, Kansas; son,
David and Vickie Tangeman, Salina, Kansas; daughter, Janis and Corbett
Lawrence, Raleigh, North Carolina; grandchildren, Brian and Krystal
Tangeman, Topeka, Kansas, Tara Heinemann, Haysville, Kansas, Mindy
Frame, Mohave Valley, Arizona, Leslie and Robb Beeson, Creedmoor, North
Carolina, Jackson Lawrence, Julie Lawrence of Charlotte, North Carolina;
7 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild. Her stepchildren, Deb
and Dan Tice of McPherson, Kansas; Steven and Jimma McMindes of
Richland Hills, Texas; David and Lizette McMindes of Salisbury,
Maryland; and Barbara and Barry Lillemon of Laguna Niguel, California;
11 step grandchildren, 17 step great grandchildren, 1 step great great
grandchild; In-laws Margaret Lange, Marysville, Kansas; Patricia and
Larry Lemon, Topeka, Kansas; numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Gerd and Tena Aden;
husband, Jack Tangeman; son, Ronald Tangeman; grandsons, Christopher
Tangeman Frame and Brent Tangeman; brothers, Edvert Aden, Melvin Aden
and sister, Leona Simonds.
Services will be held July 9, 2022, at Messiah Lutheran Church, Hays,
Kansas where Eleanor had been a faithful member since 1959.
Memorials are suggested to The Jack L. and Eleanor Tangeman
Scholarship in care of the College of Education, Fort Hays State
University, 6oo Park Street, Hays, Kansas 67601; Messiah Lutheran
Church, 2000 Main Street, Hays, Kansas 67601; or donate to help a local
school or educator of your choice.
To send an online condolence visit, www.carlsonfh.net or on Facebook.
A Carlson-Geisendorf Funeral Home service.