Anna Mary (Doege) Landauer, 103, Basehor, KS, passed away quietly at her home on March 25, 2022.
Funeral mass will be 10 am Thursday March 31, 2022, at the Holy Angels Catholic Church, Basehor, KS. Visitation with rosary will be 5-7 pm Wednesday evening at the church. Burial will be in Holy Angels Cemetery, Basehor, KS. Following the burial a luncheon will be at the Holy Angels Father Quinlan Hall.
Anna Mary was born May 5, 1918, to Joseph and Caroline (Eble) Doege in rural Leavenworth County, KS. She and her two brothers Albert Joe and Carl were born at home. Despite suffering two house fires and living through the great depression, Anna Mary grew up with a strong self-confidence. She attended Smith grade school, the same elementary school her father had attended. Her mother and father had walked her to school during her younger years, and they were the only Catholic family in the area. She worked her way through High School in a millinery/dry goods store, boarding in Tonganoxie and graduating from Tonganoxie High School in 1935. After one year at the Huffs Business College, she was hired by H.B. Hunt at the Franklin Ice Cream Corporation. She worked there seven years. Mr. Hunt had said if she married, she would be out of a job. She belonged to the Women’s Social Organization, which volunteered to visit Ft. Leavenworth Soldiers. The girls had to be 18, single, and were not allowed to wear 2-piece dresses or anklets. Anna Mary learned to drive at that time. In 1940 her mother Carrie Doege, had the 2-story farmhouse built on Tonganoxie Road which still stands. Across the road is the Dickey Tile Barn built by her father when Anna Mary was only 2 years old.
On September 7, 1943, she was united in marriage to Joseph Landauer, the eldest of 11 who was taken out of school to work in order to pay rent on the family home. He never learned to write a check and Anna Mary always managed the household. She always worked as a financial clerk, good with numbers. In 1943 She and Joe purchased an old house on 40 acres, at the corner of 155th street and 24-40 (where Casey’s is now located). In 1994 the home was moved to an area south of Basehor. The roofing Anna Mary nailed on is still in place.
She was a member of the Holy Angels Catholic Church and was head of the Catholic Women’s Organization for many years. She was involved with HDU (Home Demonstration Unit) and Glenwood EHU (Homemakers Extension Unit) for close to 50 years.
In 1997, four gentlemen from the Basehor City Council approached Anna Mary to request that she run for City Council, which she did after explaining to her husband that she didn’t ask, they asked her. She won the election and was active through 3 four-year terms, 1979-1991. She was appointed the first lady Mayor of Basehor, 1985. She remained interested in all the phases of the Basehor Community throughout her life.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father Albert and Caroline Doege, her husband Joseph Landauer, her brother, Albert Joe, brother Carl martin, and her nephew Kevin Welch.
Survivors include her sister, Alberta Doege Welch, her nephew, Carl (Christine) Welch, his children, Colleen (Billy) Cash, Katie (Eric) Stutzman, her niece, Theresa (James) Denning, her daughters, Tianna Mateo (Liam & Landon) Aurenna Denning (Nash & Cecilia), Breanna Denning (Elaina, Pierce, Barak), Jesse Welch (wife Jennifer, children Kendra and Casey) and many nieces, nephews, and relatives.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Encompass Health; the Leavenworth County Council on Aging; the Holy Angels Catholic Church; Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Tonganoxie; the Tonganoxie Community Historical Society; or any other charitable organization in the area of your choice. We would like to thank all of Anna Mary’s Friends and Family for the kind support during her last days before going home to our Father in Heaven. God Bless you all.