Joan K. Staus

Joan Kay "Joni" Staus (Ormsby)

Joan Kay "Joni" Staus, born April 12, 1950, in Emporia, Kansas, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2026, in Ottawa, Kansas. She was 75 years old.

 Joni graduated from Osage City High School in 1967 and later pursued her passion for caring for others by earning her nursing degree from Newman Hospital School of Nursing in 1981. Her dedication to the field of healthcare spanned more than two decades. As a registered nurse, she served with compassion and professionalism at Reed Medical Group doctor offices and various skilled nursing facilities as a charge nurse. She concluded her career at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, where her commitment to patient care left a lasting impression.

 Beyond her professional life, Joni was known for her generous spirit and creative talents. A gifted crocheter, she used her skills to serve others in meaningful ways—crafting hats and blankets for newborns, creating warm items for an Indian reservation and mission outreach programs, and sharing her handmade gifts with family, friends, and the residents and staff at Rock Creek of Ottawa. Her hands were rarely still, always busy with yarn that brought comfort and joy to many. Joni also had a deep love for gardening. 

She took great pride in nurturing her many plants, rose bushes, and gardens—each bloom a reflection of the care she poured into every aspect of her life.

 She is lovingly remembered by her daughter Tammi Hudson (John) of Orangevale, California; granddaughters Meghan Maginn (Russ) of Rocklin, California; Jesika Glass (Chad) of Citrus Heights, California; Hannah Bennett (Jordan) of Austin, Texas; and Elaina Hudson of Orangevale, California. Her legacy continues through her great-grandsons Max and Mason Maginn. Joni is also survived by her siblings: Bill Ormsby (Shirley) of Olivet; Lois Gutierrez (John) of Dumas, Texas; and Nancy Peters of Lebo, Kansas. She was preceded in death by her beloved son Danny Padgett; parents Alvin and Leota Ormsby; sisters Donna Miller and Betty Boyce; and brothers Jimmie Ormsby, Danny Ormsby, and Jerry Ormsby. Joni’s life was one marked by service—to her patients as a nurse, to her community through acts of kindness and creativity, and to those who knew her through steadfast love.         May her memory bring comfort to all who were touched by her warmth.