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Jeff Andrew Ensley
February 18, 1978 - April 19, 2023
Jeff Andrew Ensley, 45, of Topeka, KS, died on April 19, 2023. Jeff was born February 18, 1978, in Topeka, KS. He was a 1996 graduate from Topeka High School, where he was involved in student government and active in the music and theater departments. He participated in musicals, choir, jazz band and talent shows.
He graduated from Washburn University with a Bachelors degree in English Literature (Dec 2003); Emporia State University with a Masters degree in teaching English as a Second Language (May 2008); and a Masters degree in Library Science and Information Management (Aug 2014).
Jeff taught English at the University of Engineering, Science and Technology in Xi’an, China; Handong University and Sunlin College, Pohang, South Korea. He also taught international students at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS and Washburn Tech, Topeka, KS.
Jeff worked at the Mabee Library at Washburn University; the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library as a Bookmobile driver; Hale Library at Kansas State University; and most recently the Library at Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex. He served as the Event Coordinator and later the President of the Student Chapter of the American Library Association.
Jeff was well-read and well-traveled, interested in world culture from an early age. He wrote poetry, performed his own songs on guitar, acted on stage, and had articles published. He loved photography and documented his travels thoroughly. He was incredibly knowledgeable about music, art, film, fashion, and fragrances. He was known for his dry humor, loved a good prank, and comedies.
Survivors include: Ted G. (Pamela Sayler) Ensley, Topeka, and their daughter Megan, Long Beach, CA; Nancy (Larry) Ferrell and their son Stephen, Topeka; sister Stephanie (Brian) Chilton, Topeka; nieces Kathryn Warden and Leigha Bales, Topeka; grandmother Naomi Hepworth, Dover; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Jeff was preceded in death by his grandparents: Earl C. Hepworth, Gordon & Wilma Ensley; great grandparents: Frank Taber and Florence Taber Wayman, John Wayman and great, great grandmother, Amelia (Millie) Sage.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 11:00am at the Dover Federated Church (13449 SW 57th St, Topeka, KS 66610) located east of the main intersection in Dover, KS.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Friends of the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Kansas), or to the donor’s choice.
Read Prayers and Memory's for “Jeff Andrew Ensley”
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I will forever cherish the memories I have of you and Steph as we grew up together. All the family gatherings made better by my wonderful cousins. The worlds we created, the games we made up. I am who I am because I had you both in my life, and I wish I'd told you that sooner. I wish I'd told you how proud I am of you. Wish you could see how you are loved and worthy of love. For now, I can only hope you've found peace and send comfort to the lives you touched.
“There's no easy way to do this.
So do it right:
weep, laugh, watch, pray, love,
live, give thanks and praise;
comfort, mend, honor,
and remember.”
― Thomas Lynch
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
-- Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
I was a music teacher at Dover Grade School. Jeff was a shy kid. He never once inititated a conversation with me, but he always had the right answer if I asked him a question. He kind of danced through class, energetic and alive. I would watch him interacting with his classmates, jabbering, gabbing, laughing, the center of the conversation. I always wished I could get in on some of that, but it never happened. I'm not a cryer, Canadian heritage, pretty stoic, but Jeff's death finally brought to me what I've needed for so long, real tears, and I mean real tears. His death is a loss to me and to everyone.
As I sit here at my work computer, I can't help but think about all of the memories we shared in this short amount of time we worked here together. You were a true friend in the sense that I didn't see you as just someone I associated with. I valued your opinion and the advice you would give. You were usually the smartest guy in the room, but what I liked most is that you didn't have to stand up and announce it. You were right about several things and I wish you were here so that I could tell you. You do have a "kick ass" family and I got the opportunity to visit with them last weekend. After meeting them, I so how you are the cool, calm and collected individual that you are. They represented you very well and I know you would be proud of each and every one of them. As your friend, I wish that there was more that I could have done to comfort you. You never let the conversation be all about you. When I would ask how you're really doing, you had a way of making the conversation about me. I admire the strength that you showed, I admired that about you. You were going through and dealing with so much inside, but I never realized just how much. I wish you were here so I could say thanks for always listening and always having great advice to share. I also want to thank you for never being afraid of being yourself. For many it's tough being real anymore and you were that. I'm gonna miss your jokes and dry sense of humor that I totally appreciated. Life will never be the same, this one is going to sting for a while.
Jeff....I will forever miss our talks. You were sincerely one of the best. Deeply deeply missed.
I met Jeff as a very young man, when he came to the bookmobile department of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, where no one is just a driver. Jeff had many other duties, some were quite physical, but most were dealing with the public’s needs and demands. Jeff was shy, funny, smart. I was a mother of four, in my fifties, and, perhaps, that is why Jeff trusted me. I brought out my mother voice when I needed to, but, mostly, we just talked about life when we were on the bookmobile, and, to my delight, at lunch. Usually, I would come back from lunch, laughing and loving the moment. I just learned of Jeff’s death, and I was incredibly saddened as I remembered this sweet funny guy, who never got to be as old as I was when we met. I tried to conjure the last time Jeff dropped by, and we sat on the porch talking until nearly midnight. I wish I could better remember the words we spoke throughout our unlikely friendship. Farewell, dear Jeff. You had a hard time in life, but you made other lives sweeter.