Jeannine “Jenni” Marie Dunn Baker of Overland Park, Kansas formerly of Topeka, Kansas passed away on Sunday May 31 2026 after a long battle with ovarian cancer.

Jenni was born to Robert Emmett Dunn Jr and Jeanne Marie Dunn in St. Louis, MO on October 5th, 1964. She has one brother Robert E “Robby” Dunn III of Dallas, TX who is married to Netty Dunn. She was married from July 1989 to December 2003 to James M Neuer. She is survived by their three beautiful children Garrett (Rachel), Grant, and Marissa. She is also survived by her six grandchildren Kent, Jacob, Mary Felicity, Leo, Mary Adelaide, and a new grandchild expected to arrive in August 2026. She is also survived by her precious, Persian kittycat, Sir Rupert. 

Jenni was raised in Topeka, KS and graduated from Washburn Rural High School in 1983. She excelled in voice and journalism. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Washburn University in 1988. She completed her clinical internship in 1988 and 1989 at the Topeka Women’s Prison and at the reception and diagnostic unit for inmate evaluation.  

In 1996, Jenni was accepted into the clinical master’s psychology program where she focused on trauma work and successfully defended and published her thesis on battered women in a domestic violence setting. During her clinical training years, Jenni worked at Topeka State Hospital and the Shawnee County Community Mental Health Center. Jenni also worked in direct patient care throughout the Menninger foundation hospital units, especially focusing on trauma and eating disorders. 

In May of 1999 Jenni graduated with her clinical master’s degree from Washburn University and she began her clinical career as an outpatient therapist for Catholic Charities in the Leavenworth and Kansas City locations. She was employed as a prison psychologist at Lansing prison in 2003 and 2004. She then assumed an outpatient therapist position for Miami County Mental Health Center and later took a position as a therapist with the Substance Abuse Center of Eastern Kansas (SACEK) in 2005.

In 2007 Jenni became a director of community living at Sheltered Living, Inc. In 2010, Jenni launched her private practice focusing on trauma and abusive relationships. She continued this practice until her death.

Jenni has always been a vocal advocate for criminal and social justice. She was committed to bringing healing, comfort, and positive change to people’s lives; especially those less fortunate. She highly valued education and encouraged her children to pursue their educational and career goals. Jenni dearly loved her friends, family and her clients to whom she was fiercely loyal.  

A rosary will be held at 4:00 pm followed by a reception until 6:00 pm on Friday June 5th, 2026 at Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia St., Lenexa, Kansas.  Funeral Mass will be at 9:30 am on Saturday June 6th, 2026 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 11300 W 103rd St., Overland Park, Kansas. A live stream of the funeral mass will be available at: http://facebook.com/hscatholicchurch/live. A celebration of life in the Martha & Mary room at Holy Spirit will immediately follow.

In keeping with Jenni’s wishes, the family requests that attendees wear brightly colored clothing and, if sending flowers, to please select pink flowers and wildflowers.  

Donations to offset her medical and final expenses may be made to her GoFundMe page at

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-jennis-cancer-battle