Helen Catherine Koerner, age 88, passed away, surrounded by her family, on Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at Cedar Village Care Center, Ness City. She was born October 24, 1928 on the family farm near Antonino, Kansas the daughter of Jacob M. and Amelia Werth Haas.

She was a 1947 graduate of Girls’ Catholic High School, Hays and then went to work at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company as a bookkeeper. On May 12, 1949, she married Ervin “Blackie” Koerner in Hays where they began their married life. Later they moved to McCracken and then finally settled on the farm south of Ness City where they raised their 11 children. Besides raising her children, Helen was a daycare provider for many years. Helen was very proud of her German heritage and she was committed to her Catholic faith which she passed on to her children and others as she taught religion education in the church for many years. She was a devout member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Altar Society in Ness City. Her angel food cakes, noodles, and German cooking were a delight to many people. Helen was active in her community and served on the High Point township election board.

Helen is survived by her four sons: Larry (Kathy), Crete, NE, Dennis (Karen), Garden City, Kenneth (Marlena), Ness City, and Greg Koerner, Dodge City; seven daughters: Barbara (Larry) Bieker, Hays, Dorothy Stieben, Hays, Donna (Robert) Metzker, Ness City, Mary Ellen (Eldon) Stoecklein, Hays, Karen (Jerry) Casey, Plainville, Laura (Kevin) House, El Dorado, Janice (Adam) Showalter, Alexander; one sister, Mary Ann Gabel, Hays; 39 grandchildren and 42 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ervin; parents; step-mother, Lidwina Haas; sister, Alvera Boos; daughter-in-law, Patricia Koerner; and son-in-law, LaVerne Stieben.

Funeral service will be Saturday, November 5, 2016, 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Ness City with burial in the St. Joseph Cemetery, Hays at 2:00 p.m. The rosary will be on Friday, November 4 at 6:30 followed by the Parish Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Friends may call at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be given to Sacred Heart Church, Cedar Village, and Thomas More Prep-Marian High School.