Elmer F. VonFeldt, 90, Hays, died Sunday, September 4, 2016 at the Hays Good Samaritan Society.
He was born October 9, 1925, the son of Frank A. and Philomena (Bieker) VonFeldt in Walker, Kansas on the VonFeldt family farm that would eventually become Walker Army Air Base. The family moved to the Ellis area in 1927 and then in 1938 to a farm on the east side of Hays on land that would later become Saint Anthony’s Hospital, now Hays Medical Center. On June 1, 1948 he was united in marriage to Bertha “Bert” Hertel at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays. Elmer and Bert lived in Denver, Colorado for many years before returning to the family farm east of Hays in 1966.
Elmer played in polka bands almost all his life. As a self-taught accordion player, he played with his brother Frank in the Harmony Polka Dots, with his son Randy in the Elmer VonFeldt Polka Band, and later The Dutchmasters Polka Band. In later years he enjoyed playing his keyboard for appreciative audiences at the Senior Center and at the Good Samaritan Society. He was a member of St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, the Schoenchen Council Third Degree Knights of Columbus, and the Bishop Cunningham Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.
He is survived by his four children and their spouses; Pam Combs and husband Mike of Hays, Randy VonFeldt and wife Mary Jo of Russell, LuAnn Augustine and husband Daryl and Michelle Wiesner and husband Henry, all of Hays, five sisters-in-law; Ida Gerstner of Wichita, Edna VonFeldt of Denver, Rita VonFeldt of McPherson, Stella VonFeldt of Denver, and Florence Hertel of Hays, seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephew, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Bertha, eight brothers; Alvin, Robert, Linus, Andrew, Francis, Frank F., Marvin, and Francis, and two sisters; Viola Wasinger and Doris Kuhn, and a grandson Kevin VonFeldt.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at the St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, 2901 E. 13th. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 8:00 pm on Wednesday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Thursday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus will stand honor guard from 5:30 until 6:30 with a parish vigil at 6:30 and a combined Third and Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:00, all on Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Hays Medical Center or to the Hays Good Samaritan Society, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.