Barbara Eileen Nemechek Parke of WaKeeney, KS passed away on February 10, 2024, in Hays, KS at the age of 94. She was born August 4, 1929, in WaKeeney, KS to Bukovina immigrants Stephen F. and Barbara (Schuster) Nemechek.
Barbara was raised on a farm in southwest Graham County, KS, and later referred to herself as a tomboy. She attended school in Graham and Trego Counties and received a high school diploma from Sacred Heart Academy and an Associate in Arts Degree from Sacred Heart College, both in Wichita, KS. She joined the Adorers of the Blood of Christ Community and taught in Kinsley, Windthorst, Andale, and Pilsen, KS. The principles of the Precious Blood community influenced her spirituality and sense of social responsibility. She maintained a deep faith in God and was active in parish activities and religious education.
Barbara married Robert J. Parke on November 13, 1952. They nurtured their family on a southwest Trego County farm, which provided far too much space in the eyes of her children for asparagus, kohlrabi, and brussels sprouts. Due in part to her gardening and canning, evidenced by meticulous records of garden production, the family never went hungry. Her galuskies were a masterpiece; her chicken noodle dish was the grandkids’ favorite. She shared her knowledge by being a 4-H cooking project leader. Barbara had a sharp wit until the end. She informed Via Christi visitors her boys taught her how to swear, an allegation they deny.
Barbara was not afraid of hard work in the house or on the farm. She learned that in part from watching her father who blacksmithed for neighbors, helped dig a church basement with a team of horses and taught her the proper way to shovel.
Robert predeceased her on March 22, 2007. She is survived by sons William (Annette) of Oakley, KS, Patrick (Kathleen) of Hays, KS, and Brian (Beth) of Colorado Springs, CO, and daughter Margaret Schmitt of WaKeeney, KS, eleven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by son Stephen, daughters Jeanne Marie Parke and Gemma Parke Comstock, great-grandson Casen Parke Rohling, daughter-in-law Chardell Parke, brothers John, Ferdie, Carl, Leo, Steve and Leonard Nemechek, and sisters Catherine Umstead, Regina Ashenbrenner, Helen Lessor, Agatha Denning and Dorothy Rourke.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at Christ The King Catholic Church in WaKeeney on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in the Christ the King Cemetery, WaKeeney, Kansas. Visitation will be held at Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney on Friday, February 16, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. followed by a Parish Vigil.
Memorial Contributions may be given to masses or the Trego Community Foundation for Educational Excellence. Contributions can be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home at 336 North 12th Street, WaKeeney, KS, 67672.
Memories and words of comfort may be shared on Barbara’s tribute page at www.schmittfuneral.com