Janet Lynne Reedy Droge, 63, died peacefully on Sunday, July 24, 2022 at her home in Topeka, Kansas, attended by loved ones. She died of complications of metastatic ovarian cancer.
She was born January 27, 1959 in Fairbury, Nebraska to Leonard and Judy (Mahon) Reedy, the oldest of six children and the only daughter. She attended first grade at the Hollis, Kansas country school, followed by Our Lady of Perpetual Help parochial school until the 6th grade. She was a member of the Hollis Hustlers 4-H club for ten years. She enjoyed piano lessons at the Nazareth Motherhouse. She was involved in Drama club, French club, and took a semester of woodworking her senior year of high school.
She graduated from Concordia High School, Concordia, Kansas, as the salutatorian, in January of 1977, and attended Kansas State University for the next year. She participated in the KSU Summer Study Abroad Program and went to France for the summer of 1977.
She married David H. Droge at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Concordia, on April 21, 1978. The couple made their first home in Blue Rapids, Kansas, where two sons, Brian and Jacob, were born. Together David and Janet founded the manufacturing company TravAlong Inc, of Waterville, KS. They retired after the sale of the business in 1991, and lived in Manhattan, Kansas, where she enjoyed studying and applying apparel design and interior design. The couple later divorced on January 2, 2002.
Janet went on to develop a new career post-divorce. She first went to Hutchinson Community College for the Building Trades vocational program. She returned to Topeka, and enrolled at Washburn University where she completed two bachelor’s degrees, Accounting and Social work, summa cum laude, in 2006. She completed her master’s degree in Social work at the University of Kansas in May of 2008. She practiced as an LSCSW psychotherapist in a variety of settings, including: Valeo Behavioral Healthcare of Topeka, the TBI clinic at Ft. Riley, Pawnee Mental Health in Concordia, Belleville, and Beloit, the women’s prison in Topeka, Stormont Vail Healthcare, Topeka, KS, and as a Crisis Responder on the Veteran’s Administration Hotline. She specialized in the treatment of PTSD.
From June 2018 until mid 2021 Janet enjoyed an early retirement to pursue her lifelong dream of renovating an old house. Those who knew her well were amused by her addiction to DIY you-tube videos. She derived enormous happiness and satisfaction from being able to do such things as roofing, window replacement, plumbing, refinishing floors, and building a new kitchen from the walls out.
She is survived by her partner, (Mr.) Terry Kramer, Goff, KS; 2 sons, Brian James Droge, El Dorado, KS; Jacob Daniel Droge, Topeka, KS; her mother, Judy Reedy, Concordia, KS; five brothers, James (Connie) Reedy, Concordia, KS; Dennis (Donna) Reedy, Concordia, KS; Steve Reedy, Plano, TX, Robert Reedy, Wichita, KS; Joseph (Karen) Reedy, Concordia, KS; numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Leonard Reedy,
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM, on Thursday, July 28, 2022 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church with Fr. David Metz officiating. Burial will follow at St. Concordia Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM with family greeting friends after the Rosary service at 6 PM on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 all at Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home.
The family suggests memorials to Hospice Care of Kansas in care of the Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, PO Box 606, Concordia, KS 66901. For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.
