Sylvia RobrahnBurlington, KS

Mrs. Sylvia Robrahn, of Burlington, Kansas, died Friday, January 10, 2025, at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka, KS. She was 89 years old.

Sylvia was born September 8, 1935, in Burlington, Kansas, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Bates Strawn. Early in her childhood, she resided with her parents in Los Angeles, California, until the beginning of WWII. At that time, they moved back home, where she enjoyed growing up on her parents’ farm east of Burlington, along the Neosho River. Some of her favorite memories were going to the river to fish with her Grandpa Strawn and making homemade foods with her Grandmas’ Bates and Strawn. Sylvia also enjoyed helping her father on the farm and would frequently operate his F-Model Farmall tractor. She would often walk to school, using the Santa Fe railroad bridge, in order to cross the river at her mother’s disgruntlement. As a teenager, she worked for her uncle Ernest Bates in his Ice Cream Parlor on north 3rd Street, in downtown Burlington. She also spent countless hours looking after and taking care of her younger brother, William ‘Bill’ Strawn, who had at one time, tied two cats’ tails together.

Sylvia graduated from Burlington High School in 1953 and went on to Coffeyville Community College where she obtained an associate’s degree. She began working for the Royal Noel Abstract office in Burington, and then later went to work for Cappers Weekly in Topeka. In 1955, Sylvia obtained her state teaching license and began her career in a one-room country school at Rosemount, near LeRoy. She also taught at Cola Hill, Strawn Grade School, and Burlington Elementary until her retirement in 1997. During her career, she attended and graduated from the Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia in 1971, and later Emporia State University with her master’s degree in 1990. Sylvia believed that eduation should be fun for all students, and that was the focus of all her teaching methods.

On December 25, 1955, Sylvia married Forrest Preston Robrahn, also known as Frosty. In 1960, they purchased W.E. & Sadie Strawn farm, on the northwest edge of Burlington. They welcomed their son, Thomas Forrest Robrahn, in 1965. Together, the family built and moved to their current residence east of Burlington, along the Neosho River in 1973.

While Sylvia and Frosty maintained fulltime work, they operated their farm growing corn, soybeans, and wheat. Sylvia loved to tend her large garden in the summer and would can her produce for her family’s use. She could make the best food, including grape jelly and dill pickles. Sylvia also raised chickens, ducks, and peacocks. She was an innovative person, convincing Frosty to purchase a traveling gun irrigation system in 1974, to water their crops. Later on, in 1987, they updated to a center-pivot irrigation system that covers over 120 acres and still operates today.

After she retired from teaching, Sylvia loved to travel to places close and far. She traveled to various locations in the United States and connected with her Bates family history in Massachusetts and Vermont. Sylvia would often travel with her cousin and closest friend, Ernestine Bates Hallman. They, along with other lifelong friends, enjoyed so many trips together, that included Branson, Michigan, Vermont, and Colorado. Sylvia most enjoyed traveling to Arizona, where she discovered when assisting her parents in finding a dry location for the winter months. The whole family fell in love with Arizona, from Apache Junction to Scottsdale. Sylvia also loved to go shopping with her dear friend, Ethel Crandall.

In 2009, Sylvia was over the moon with the arrival of her grandson, Caleb Thomas Strawn Robrahn. She assisted the new parents by babysitting and caring for him in his home, while his parents worked. As Caleb grew, she helped teach him how to read, write, do homemade science experiments, and taught him about nature and animals. Sylvia would often drive to pick up Caleb, where he spent time at the farm with her and Frosty. She would incorporate Caleb in her various activities, such as cooking, gardening, playing tether ball, swinging, and badminton. Sylvia would make sure Caleb got to his soccer practices, piano lessons, and swimming lessons during his summer months. She absolutely adored Caleb and enjoyed watching him in sports, music or anything else he was involved in.

Sylvia she was a member of the Methodist Church in Burlington and Order of Eastern Star of LeRoy. She also was a member of the National Association & Emporia Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the National Association & William Hilton Chapter of the Daughters of American Colonists in Kansas City. She was a former member of the Kansas National Education Association and of Chapter CO of PEO in Burlington.

Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother Bill. She is survived by her husband of over 69 years, Frosty Robrahn, a son, Thomas Robrahn and his wife, Kimberly, and a grandson, Caleb, all of Burlington, KS; her dear cousin, Ernestine Hallman, Mission, KS; and many friends and beloved students.

Memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, January 17, 2025, at the Methodist Church in Burlington. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to USD #244’s Wildcat Cares program, which provides and meets the needs of food/snacks, clothing, and personal hygiene products to students in the district, and sent in care to Jones Funeral Home, PO Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.