Francis X. Werder

Francis Xavier Werder, age 95, was born Nov 29, 1929 in Pittsburgh, PA and died in Kansas City, MO on Jan 6, 2025 due to complications of multiple myeloma. He was predeceased by his parents, Vincent Charles and Helen Devlin Werder, his first wife Cecelia Llewellyn Werder, his second wife, Dolores Soto Werder, and siblings Mary Helen, Vincent, John, James, William, Raymond, Ruth, and Lawrence. He is survived by three children: Donna Lynn Brewer (Douglas), Dr. Steven Francis Werder (Melinda), and Judy Marie Bordeau; stepdaughters: Debra and Pamela Soto (Charles Kerans); and grandchildren: Edward “Ted” and John Bordeau; Matthew, Allison and Audrey Brewer; Shona Viener; and Peter, Graham and Nick Soto-Kerans. He is also survived by his sister, Margaret Belsterling (Howard); in-laws Rita Golm, Mary Parker, Daniel Llewellyn, Margy Toler, Reeva Anderson, Paul Hansen and Marilyn Deckinger; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

During Frank’s early years in New Florence, PA, he enjoyed activities and antics with his brothers, sisters and cousins. In Pittsburgh, PA at age 16, Frank left high school to enlist in the Marines, joining five older brothers in military service. He is a veteran of both WWII and the Korean War. In addition to his military adventures, as a young man Frank rode a motorcycle cross-country and worked on a cattle ranch in Montana. He attended the University of Tulsa, where he met his wife Cecelia, whom he married in 1957. He was widowed in 1970 and again in 2018. Frank worked in sales for A.B. Dick Company in Tulsa, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, and was branch manager in Topeka, KS. In later life, he found his true calling as a chaplain with Heart of America Hospice in Topeka, and he continued to work as a chaplain until the age of 88. He also was a joyful and tireless volunteer, most significantly as a grief counselor at the Topeka Correctional Facility, as a CCD teacher at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Valley Falls, KS, and with the Boy Scouts of America, from whom he received the Silver Beaver award, the highest recognition for adults in scouting. With his wife Dolores, he also volunteered at the Jefferson County Humane Society for many years. Frank was a deeply spiritual person who found many friendships with the Glory to God Community in Topeka, Kansas. The last five years of his life were spent developing new friendships at St Anthony’s Senior Living Facility, Kansas City, where he served as sacristan and rosary leader. 

A Rosary will be prayed on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, starting at 5:00pm with a Visitation immediately following until 7:00pm at Muehlebach Funeral Care, 6800 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64131. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, January 15, at 11:00am at St. Peter’s Parish, 815 E Meyer Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64131. Interment will follow on Thursday, January 16, at 1:30pm at Calvary Cemetery in Tulsa, OK. 

In lieu of flowers, Frank’s children suggest contributions in his memory to Reaching Out from Within (https://www.rofw.org) or the Jefferson County Humane Society (https://www.jfcounty.pets.com).