Geraldine "Gerry" Lucille Browning

Gerry Browning, 97, of Lenexa, KS, passed away Sunday, November 9, 2025.

Gerry was born on October 6, 1928, in Concordia, KS, the daughter of Chris C. Green and Mabel T. (Gillum) Green.

Growing up in Courtland, KS, Gerry loved to play the piano and loved to read. She maintained these passions throughout her life. As a young girl, she was very daring and loved playing football with the boys and climbing trees. But she was also a cheerleader and involved in school activities. Gerry attended Ottawa University where she participated in women’s athletics and various groups, and was President of several student organizations. She graduated with a major in Physical Education and a minor in English.

While at OU, however, she also began dating Roy W. Browning, Jr. What began with her feeling they were “compatible and had the same moral standards,” led to a deeper love, a relatively short engagement, and she & Roy were married on December 27, 1950. Their marriage was of “state-wide importance” according to newspaper headlines at the time since Gerry’s dad was a four-term representative in the state legislature from Republic County and Roy’s father was head of the Education and Psychology Department at Ottawa University.

Gerry had three goals in life: to go to school, to get married, and to have kids. Having come from a kind and loving home herself, she wanted that more than anything. Gerry and Roy were blessed with 3 children, and she served her family for many years as a career homemaker. Although she was very involved in church (Westside Christian, Topeka) and several community organizations (Topeka YWCA, Christian Women’s Fellowship, PEO, and her gourmet group), her heart was always toward her family. Her home was always filled with love, laughter, peace, and joy. Later in her life, Gerry returned to Education. She earned a Master’s degree in Library Science and served as a school librarian in the Auburn-Washburn School District for 19 years.

Gerry and Roy loved traveling with each other and their family members. Whether it was their own extended tour of Europe when their children were young, or having all of their children and grandchildren join them for an extended Hawaiian vacation, a 50th Anniversary cruise to the Western Caribbean, and an Alaskan cruise, they loved having their family together and showing the world to their loved ones. Once Gerry and Roy were both retired, they even journeyed “around the world” on an extensive vacation that they remembered and talked about for a long time. Altogether, Gerry and Roy visited all fifty states, many national parks, and over 21 countries. They enjoyed over 70 years of marriage before Roy’s passing in 2021.

Gerry’s life was filled with faith: growing up in the Christian faith, having a Christian husband, having Christian children and grandchildren, all these were life’s greatest treasures to her. Her desire was to be remembered as a loving, caring, follower of Christ who was easy to get along with. Her faith in her Savior covered every part of her life. Her faith was not simply attending church or Bible studies. It was spent purposefully reading the Bible, having heartfelt prayers, and living with eternity in mind. She lived with this faith guiding all her days.

Gerry’s life was full of love, laughter, traveling, and reading, while also inspiring a love of books in the children she taught during her years as an elementary school librarian. She filled her life by serving others, making her delicious gingersnap cookies and cranberry ice, playing the piano for herself, her family, and her church, as well as, singing in the church choir, nurturing relationships, and so much more. All of her grandchildren said she genuinely listened and cared about their lives. She loved games, humor, puzzles, and Rummikub. She truly seized every moment of life she was given on this earth. Whether known as Gerry, Mother, or Gigi, this precious and sweet servant of God will be greatly missed.

Gerry’s family includes her children, Roy (Karlene) Browning, III of Olathe, Christy (J.D.) Holt of Ingalls, IN, and Julie (Rick) Loevenstein of Shawnee; nine grandchildren, Kamden (James) Tharp, Karina (Andrew) Clark, Christopher (Stacey) Browning, Shaylene Holt, Sharise (Nate) Piquard, Lindsay (Ryan) Meda, Derek Loevenstein, Mark Loevenstein, and Kurt Loevenstein; and eight great-grandchildren, Addison Tharp, Tyler Tharp, Eve Piquard, Ezra Piquard, Titus Piquard, Carver Browning, Dorothea Holt, and Cameron Meda.

Entombment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, 4700 SW 17th Street, Topeka, KS 66604. Gerry's family will be gathering privately at a later date to celebrate her life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Topeka Rescue Mission, https://trmonline.givevirtuous.org/Donate or the Topeka and Shawnee County Library, https://foundation.tscpl.org/donate.

To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.DoveTopeka.com.