Lanny W. Ellis

Lanny W. Ellis, 85, passed away on April 5, 2026, at home.

He was born May 4, 1940, in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Frank and Elizabeth (Robinson) Ellis. Lanny grew up in Topeka, attended Eskridge High School for two years and graduated from Topeka High in 1958. He attended Washburn University before moving to Chicago, Illinois, where he worked for three years for the Rock Island Railroad.

Lanny served eight years in the Kansas Army National Guard and the Army Reserve and was honorably discharged on May 4, 1965.

Lanny married Judy Kolterman in Wamego, Kansas, on November 4, 1962; she survives of the home.

Lanny was an entrepreneur. Along with his brother Darrell Johnson, they started Capitol City Pawn Shop, Inc. in 1962, Capitol City Rentals, Inc. in 1962, and Johnson and Ellis Investments in 1969. In 1971, Lanny, Darrell, and Harold George started the Kansas Pawnbrokers Association, where Lanny served as president for three years. In 1976, he started along with his brother Darrell and cousin, Robert Robinson, Equity Buyer Investors L.L.C. He was a member of the Topeka Breakfast Optimist Club, National Pawnbrokers Association, Kansas Pawnbrokers Association, Maple Hill Kiwanis Club, National Train Collectors Association, and the Maple Hill, Wabaunsee County Fire District #4 Board of Directors.

As a longtime member of the First Congregational Church of Topeka and the Maple Hill Community Congregational Church, he served as a member on each of the church councils: Deacon, Trustee, Membership, Stewardship, and Missions committees.

In his 70-plus-year hobby of building train layouts, running model trains, traveling on trains, and collecting railroad memorabilia, he never tired of watching trains. He loved showing anyone interested in his latest train layout.

All of the above was good, but his wife Judy, sons, Gregg and Frank (Vicki), and three loving, caring granddaughters were the most important and wonderful parts of his life.

Lanny is survived by his wife Judy of Maple Hill, KS; sons, Gregg Ellis and Frank (Vicki) Ellis of Topeka, KS; three granddaughters, Elyssa (Tyler) Bush of Lenexa, KS, Madison (Jalen) Bullock of Edmond, OK, and McKenna Ellis of Kansas City, MO and sister-in-law, Joyce Johnson of Topeka, KS.

Lanny was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Darrell Johnson, and infant grandson, Colin Ellis.

His final wish was for memorial contributions to be donated to the Topeka Rescue Mission by clicking HERE or to the Maple Hill Community Congregational Church and those may be sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, KS 66536.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, April 12 from 4:00-6:00 PM at Piper Funeral Home in St Marys. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, April 13, 2026 at Maple Hill Community Congregational Church.

Burial of his cremated remains will take place at a later date at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Maple Hill, KS.