Dr. Willard Wike Scamman

TOPEKA - Wike Scamman, 92, passed away Saturday March 23, 2024. Wike was born February 3, 1932 to Willard Sedgwick and Agnes Louise (Harmes) Scamman of Rock Port MO.

Wike graduated from Rock Port High School 1949, received a B.A. from Westminster College in Fulton MO 1953, and his Doctor of Medicine from Vanderbilt University 1957. He served his Pathology residency at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago, where he also met his wife of 62 years, Diana Ruth (Garceau) of Indianapolis. They were married on February 27, 1960.

After finishing his residency, they lived briefly in Marietta GA before moving to Topeka in 1963. Wike worked for Lattimore-Fink Labs for 8 years, then Damon Laboratories for 11. While at Lattimore, he also started Topeka’s first blood bank. In 1982, Wike started his own lab, Scamman Pathology Services, providing services to the Topeka hospitals as well as many other small hospitals throughout NE Kansas. Dr. Scamman also served as the local county coroner 3 different times – 1977, 1983, and 1990. He held terms as the president of the Kansas Society of Pathologists and the Kansas Association of Blood Banks.

Wike enjoyed contributing to the youth of the area. He and four others founded the Southwest Youth Athletic Association in 1968, constructing the popular Ken Berry Baseball/Softball complex on 61st street to allow children of all skill levels to play organized ball. In 1971, he was also a founding member and president of the Washburn Rural Optimist Club. Wike loved gardening, bird watching, hunting, and traveling.

Wike is preceded in death by his parents, brother Jack, sister Joan, and wife Diana. He is survived by five children – George, Sara, Amy, Will, Glenn, and nine grandchildren – Abbey, Tyler, Jessica, Rebecca, Hailey, Sienna, Alexis, Taylor, Julia.

Visit with family and celebrate Wike’s life at Johnny’s Tavern Topeka on Saturday April 27 12 - 3pm. To leave messages for the family online, visit www.DoveTopeka.com.