Lowell B. Manis, 1944-2020
Historic Topeka Cemetery laid to rest longtime superintendent Lowell B. Manis on Friday, Aug. 7.
Lowell made a career at Topeka Cemetery, working first on the grounds and spending the second half of his 40 years at the cemetery managing the office and grounds. Family and friends gathered at the Garden Chapel patio for their farewells.
Lowell treasured the cemetery and made a mission of sharing the life stories of the people buried here with the community. He shared this philosophy in one of his many poems:
Finding a moment
Come walk beside me, if you will
While the air is cool, and the wind is still
And I shall tell you tales of was
If you must ask why, it is just because
Of the magic in my yesterdays
When lives were lived in different ways
When love was more than just a word
As we understood, of that we heard
For you, my friend, I feel quite sad
You’ll never know of what we had
Of the joy that we all shared
When many people really cared
I see it now, in so very few
I wonder, could it be in you
Does your mind hear what your heart sings?
Or are you wrapped up in other things?
Life goes by at such a pace
You cannot see what’s in your face
Each time you fail to show a smile
Your length of life drops by a mile
So walk with me, and hear my tales
Of the joys in life and what it regales
Set aside what life has harmed
Replace it with what life has charmed
Such ease in telling what has passed
No one can make your future last.
Staying safe
Social distancing at funerals can be difficult, so Topeka Cemetery is offering its Garden Chapel for services. This covered patio has room for people to stand apart and still participate in the service. Having the service outside may feel safer than indoor venues.
Office staff at Topeka Cemetery will wear masks when working within six feet of customers. If you have a mask, we appreciate your wearing it when you come inside.
While you are on the grounds, please respect others by maintaining a safe distance.
Maps showing locations of your loved ones can be found through the Search Records tab on this website. If you need further help, maps and instructions can be emailed to you.
Headstones can be purchased via email. Call the office to discuss size, color and theme, and we will email designs to you.
Payments on accounts can be made by credit or debit card over the phone or mailed in.
If you are wishing to purchase spaces, call the office to discuss what is available near family members or to learn more about what is available. A staff member will meet you on the grounds and help you find just the right spot while maintaining safe distancing.
WELCOME
Historic Topeka Cemetery is a setting unlike any other in Topeka. The grounds offer an eternal view for those who shaped Topeka and Kansas from territorial days into the 21st century. The city skyline, with the Statehouse standing prominently in the center, can be seen from nearly every part of Topeka Cemetery.
On a rolling hillside east of downtown, Topeka Cemetery is an outdoor museum of stunning monuments that help tell the stories of the more than 35,000 people in our care.
We encourage you to visit, to take a stroll among the names familiar to you from street signs and businesses, and from family and friends, to reflect on the beauty of this spot and the lives of those who came before you.
READ MORE
Help us solve a mystery
Finding your loved ones
Topeka Cemetery has 80 acres that stretch from SE 10th Avenue to Interstate 70 and from Lafayette Street to California Avenue. Finding family members among the 35,000 souls who rest here can be a challenge.
Whether on your first visit or your 10th, it can sometimes be difficult to get to the right spot.
Enter Walk-to-Site. You can use your smart phone to guide you. Start by clicking on Search Records. Enter the name of the person you wish to find. On some phones, you may need to move the screen left to find the place to enter the last name.
If the person you seek doesn’t come up first, hit the “Next” button. That will scroll through the names that are similar.
If you get no results, try a different spelling or use just a first initial on the first name.
The large map will show you where you need to be, so you can drive to the general area before beginning your walk.
Please keep in mind that not every grave has a headstone. If you find no memorial, Topeka Cemetery is happy to assist you in finding the perfect tribute to your loved one.
More instruction is available on YouTube.
Points of interest
We consider ourselves an outdoor museum with hundreds of beautiful and interesting monuments! EXPLORE!
Friends of Historic Topeka Cemetery
The Friends have a mission to support Historic Topeka Cemetery in its efforts to preserve its grounds and buildings, promote Topeka and Kansas history, and educate Topekans on the legacies created by their forebears – the extraordinary and the ordinary, the famous and the infamous, the entrepreneur and the artist.
The Friends offer tours, including Ghost Tours in October; put on events such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs; and offer opportunities to remember your loved ones in unique ways.