Doris Jean Ylander of Wichita, KS has gone home, leaving behind a circle of those who loved her.
Here is a glimpse of the life she lived, in her family's own remembrance.
Doris held deeply to the Lutheran faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew her best.
Belief, when lived, becomes a kind of inheritance.
A few weeks shy of her 97 th birthday, we lost a gentle soul and matriarch of the family, Doris Jean Ylander. Her seven decades in Wichita were filled with her love of teaching, learning, family and friends, along with a healthy dose of kindness, volunteerism and activism for causes important to her values and profession. She found great joy and interest in her family, their adventures, and achieving great grandmahood at the age of 91. Many smiles and good cheer were shared to the end.
A native Texan, Doris lived on the family farm estate in a rural community of Swedish immigrant families near Ericksdahl until the death of her father in 1940. Soon after, her mother and the four children moved to their new home in Kerrville, Texas, where she graduated from Tivy High School in 1946.
Doris attended Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Music degree with a major in Music Theory and Composition. She began her 32-year teaching career in the Wichita area in 1958, first in county schools, then the Wichita Public School system at McCollom Elementary as a kindergarten teacher. She later became a reading specialist and completed a Master of Education degree with Reading Specialist Certification at Wichita State University in 1968. She retired from the Wichita Public Schools in 1990 and from five years as an adjunct instructor at WSU in 1991.
During her career, she was active in several professional organizations. As a member of the International Reading Association, Doris held numerous offices in the Wichita Reading Council including President, 1970-1971. She received Reading Teacher of the Year from the council in 1990. She was active in the Kansas Reading Association serving as President, 1987-1988, and received the Outstanding Contributions to the Kansas Reading Association Award in 1991. She was a long-time member of the National Education Association and was active locally with the Political Action Committee serving as Chairperson from 1982-1987. In the Kansas National Education Association, she served on several commissions, the Congressional Contact Team, and was awarded the Bob Wootton Political Achievement Award in 1995 for her work in the political arena.
After retirement, Doris remained active with many interests. She served as Precinct Committeewoman for the Sedgwick County Democratic Central Committee from 1989-2000 and assisted several political campaigns for candidates supportive of public education. She served as Scandinavian Society President from 1995-1997 and received the Award of Merit from the Swedish Council of America in 1997 for her contributions to promote and preserve Swedish heritage. She was the first elected President for Kansas-NEA-Retired, 1995-1997, and later as editor for the KNEA-R newsletter, THE APPLE CORPS, from 2000-2003. She helped establish the Wichita area chapter of KNEA-R, Heartland Retired Educators, and served as the first President from 2001-2002. Locally, she was an active volunteer for the United Teachers of Wichita and received the UTW Friend of Education Award in 2007.
Throughout her years in Wichita, Doris was an active member of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, including several years as Library Volunteer Team Coordinator. Other interests included the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, travel, theater, genealogy, book club, bridge clubs, family, friends and the Sedgwick County Zoo.
She is survived by her daughter Kristen (Robin); grandsons Will (Ashley); Galen (Melissa); three great grandkids; and a loving extended family. She is preceded in death by her son, Bryan Ylander.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 on Saturday morning, May 16, 2026, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Wichita. Memorial donations may be given to the Library Trust Fund of Gloria Dei Luthern Church, or to Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas.
Arranged through Downing & Lahey West Mortuary.
