Nina Lorraine Stallwitz Obituary

Nina Lorraine (Pepper) Stallwitz passed peacefully on February 28, 2026, in Olathe, Kansas, from pancreatic cancer, surrounded by family and her beloved dog, Pixie. She was born on February 12, 1940, in Peck, Kansas, to Lenabell Virginia Dare and Lincoln Aldine Pepper. Her father departed to serve in WWII shortly thereafter, like so many young men, and Nina therefore spent several years as the small town's only child. The family moved to Wichita, and at age 10, Nina became a big sister to Linda and at 12, to Loren.

Nina graduated from Wichita East High School in 1957 and from the University of Wichita (now Wichita State) in 1961 with a degree in Education. While at college, she met Craig Stewart Stallwitz, her husband of 62 years, at a Sigma Phi Epsilon party. Nina was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. They married in 1961 and had four children. Nina and her family lived at Red Stone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, where Craig was stationed. After his Army service, they moved back to Peabody, Kansas, where Craig had been raised. In 1973, they moved to Derby, Kansas where all four of their children graduated high school.

Nina initially taught elementary school and then stayed at home with her children for a decade. She then launched a career in banking, beginning as a teller at Farmers & Merchants State Bank and eventually retiring as a Regional Vice President of Bank of America, focused on training. She retired in 2000 to travel the world with Craig. She and Craig visited many countries and all of the continents over their years of travel. Nina was passionate about traveling and would plan trips years in advance. She particularly loved cruises, finding them the best way to see the world. She imparted her love of travel to her children and grandchildren.

Nina was highly intelligent, had many skills and imparted her unique qualities to her children and grandchildren. She was the consummate planner and list maker. She could break down any challenge into a series of steps to be accomplished. She encouraged her children to tackle the world and to pursue higher education. She also loved her collectibles: Swarovski figurines, bone china birds and flowers, and her treasured Dickens Christmas Village houses, which she proudly displayed in her apartment at Crestone Senior Living in Olathe.

Nina is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Loren Pepper, and her husband, Craig Stewart Stallwitz. She is survived by her sister Linda George (Jim), daughters Chrysta Castañeda (John), Cathryn Mallonee (Philip), Cheryl Pudwill (Wesley), and son David Stallwitz (Carrie). She is also survived by grandchildren Scott Osborn (Nicole), Joseph Castañeda (Sophia Pache), Laura Mallonee (Wade Traylor), Caralyn Mallonee (Kasil Brenner), Jacob Pudwill, Ethan Pudwill, Reece Stallwitz and Evynn Stallwitz, and great grandchildren Hazel and Arthur Traylor. Last, but not least, she leaves behind her beloved dog, Pixie.

Services will be held on March 11 at 10 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Peabody, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dachshund Rescue of Houston in Nina's honor (http://www.droh.org).