In Memory Of
Mary Ellen Oswald
1938
2022
Mary Ellen Oswald
October 14, 1938 — March 31, 2022
Mary Ellen Oswald
Olathe, KS
October 14, 1938 – March 31, 2022
Mary Ellen Oswald, 83, of Olathe, passed away on March 31, 2022, at her home. Mary Ellen (Brand) Oswald was born in Pittsburgh, PA, on October 14, 1938. Her parents were Malcolm and Gretchen Brand. She graduated from Sewickly High School and attended Ohio University, where she graduated in 1960 with a BS in Elementary Education. While at Ohio University, she met Frank Oswald, and they married on June 17, 1960. They moved to Chicago, IL, where she taught at an elementary school in Morton Grove, IL. During their 62 years of marriage they also lived in Elkhart, IN, Lenexa, KS, and Omaha, NE, before settling in Olathe, KS, in 1988 to start Sir Speedy, a printing and graphic design business.
Mary Ellen was a highly respected member of the business community, serving on numerous Chamber committees. She was a member of the 1998 class of Leadership Olathe. Under Frank and Mary Ellen's leadership, Sir Speedy was honored as the Small Business of the Year in 1989 by the Olathe Chamber. They also received an award demonstrating Outstanding Character in Family, as well as the Merit Award from the Kansas Department of Commerce for Continuous Business Growth. She was always looking for ways to "help the cause," supporting countless events and programs while printing numerous brochures, often at no charge, which led the Mayor of Olathe to state that "the name Sir Speedy has become synonymous with not only quality service but kindness and generosity as well."
She was a dedicated and tireless volunteer for many civic causes including Central Elementary, the Optimist Club, KidsTLC, and the Olathe Chamber of Commerce. She carried that same enthusiasm and dedication as a devoted member of Heritage Presbyterian Church, where she worked at many Church Day Camps and was always willing to help with whatever needed to be done. She also volunteered with Seniors Serving Schools and Youth Friends. As Past President of the Olathe Noon Optimists, she had a special devotion to anything related to childhood cancer and always helped on the club's annual visit to Olathe fourth graders to hand out dictionaries.
Mary Ellen was a talented cook and her many interests included tending flowers and gardening, and she was always eager to travel in search of a new art museum or botanical garden. Mary Ellen never missed an opportunity to play bridge with friends and neighborhood groups. She enjoyed parties and activities with her Grayson Place neighborhood and was a regular at their Tuesday morning get togethers. At home, she worked the daily crossword puzzles and rarely took on anything until she had this challenge completed. She rarely missed an episode of Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune, another pastime that kept her mind sharp.
She loved her two boys, Doug and Greg, and enjoyed the special touch that their wives, Sherry and Anne, brought to her life. She had a special love for and interest in her grandchildren, Taylor and Graden, and always looked forward to their upcoming activities. She loved to watch Graden play baseball and see Taylor participate on the cheer squad. She was especially proud that both were inducted into the National Honor Society.
Wife, Mother, Grandmother and proud citizen of Olathe, Mary Ellen will be missed by all.
She is survived by her loving husband, Frank, sons Doug (Sherry) Oswald of Shawnee, KS, and Greg (Anne) Oswald of Olathe, KS, grandchildren Taylor Oswald and Graden Oswald, nieces Hilary Usiatynski of Fayetteville, NY, and Jennifer Long of Cumberland, MD; nephews Matthew Brand of Elmira, NY, Malcolm Brand of Ithaca, NY and Nicholas Brand of Chicago, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Frank Brand.
The family is grateful to Dr. Jessica Gillespie-Gebhards, the Brookdale Hospice staff, and the staff of Olathe Medical Center for their loving care over the past year.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, at Heritage Presbyterian Church, 15550 Black Bob Road, Olathe, KS. A visitation will be held before the service, starting at 1 p.m. A live stream of the service will be available on the Heritage Presbyterian Church Facebook Page.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Day Camp Ministry of Heritage Presbyterian Church.
To leave a message of condolence for Mary Ellen's family, or to share a special memory, visit the guestbook below.
Olathe, KS
October 14, 1938 – March 31, 2022
Mary Ellen Oswald, 83, of Olathe, passed away on March 31, 2022, at her home. Mary Ellen (Brand) Oswald was born in Pittsburgh, PA, on October 14, 1938. Her parents were Malcolm and Gretchen Brand. She graduated from Sewickly High School and attended Ohio University, where she graduated in 1960 with a BS in Elementary Education. While at Ohio University, she met Frank Oswald, and they married on June 17, 1960. They moved to Chicago, IL, where she taught at an elementary school in Morton Grove, IL. During their 62 years of marriage they also lived in Elkhart, IN, Lenexa, KS, and Omaha, NE, before settling in Olathe, KS, in 1988 to start Sir Speedy, a printing and graphic design business.
Mary Ellen was a highly respected member of the business community, serving on numerous Chamber committees. She was a member of the 1998 class of Leadership Olathe. Under Frank and Mary Ellen's leadership, Sir Speedy was honored as the Small Business of the Year in 1989 by the Olathe Chamber. They also received an award demonstrating Outstanding Character in Family, as well as the Merit Award from the Kansas Department of Commerce for Continuous Business Growth. She was always looking for ways to "help the cause," supporting countless events and programs while printing numerous brochures, often at no charge, which led the Mayor of Olathe to state that "the name Sir Speedy has become synonymous with not only quality service but kindness and generosity as well."
She was a dedicated and tireless volunteer for many civic causes including Central Elementary, the Optimist Club, KidsTLC, and the Olathe Chamber of Commerce. She carried that same enthusiasm and dedication as a devoted member of Heritage Presbyterian Church, where she worked at many Church Day Camps and was always willing to help with whatever needed to be done. She also volunteered with Seniors Serving Schools and Youth Friends. As Past President of the Olathe Noon Optimists, she had a special devotion to anything related to childhood cancer and always helped on the club's annual visit to Olathe fourth graders to hand out dictionaries.
Mary Ellen was a talented cook and her many interests included tending flowers and gardening, and she was always eager to travel in search of a new art museum or botanical garden. Mary Ellen never missed an opportunity to play bridge with friends and neighborhood groups. She enjoyed parties and activities with her Grayson Place neighborhood and was a regular at their Tuesday morning get togethers. At home, she worked the daily crossword puzzles and rarely took on anything until she had this challenge completed. She rarely missed an episode of Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune, another pastime that kept her mind sharp.
She loved her two boys, Doug and Greg, and enjoyed the special touch that their wives, Sherry and Anne, brought to her life. She had a special love for and interest in her grandchildren, Taylor and Graden, and always looked forward to their upcoming activities. She loved to watch Graden play baseball and see Taylor participate on the cheer squad. She was especially proud that both were inducted into the National Honor Society.
Wife, Mother, Grandmother and proud citizen of Olathe, Mary Ellen will be missed by all.
She is survived by her loving husband, Frank, sons Doug (Sherry) Oswald of Shawnee, KS, and Greg (Anne) Oswald of Olathe, KS, grandchildren Taylor Oswald and Graden Oswald, nieces Hilary Usiatynski of Fayetteville, NY, and Jennifer Long of Cumberland, MD; nephews Matthew Brand of Elmira, NY, Malcolm Brand of Ithaca, NY and Nicholas Brand of Chicago, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Frank Brand.
The family is grateful to Dr. Jessica Gillespie-Gebhards, the Brookdale Hospice staff, and the staff of Olathe Medical Center for their loving care over the past year.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, at Heritage Presbyterian Church, 15550 Black Bob Road, Olathe, KS. A visitation will be held before the service, starting at 1 p.m. A live stream of the service will be available on the Heritage Presbyterian Church Facebook Page.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Day Camp Ministry of Heritage Presbyterian Church.
To leave a message of condolence for Mary Ellen's family, or to share a special memory, visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Ellen Oswald, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Saturday, April 30, 2022
1:00 - 2:00 pm (Central time)
Heritage Presbyterian Church
Service
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Starts at 2:00 pm (Central time)
Heritage Presbyterian Church
Guestbook
Visits: 6
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