2016 – Page 44 – Hays Post Archive

Merlene Bailey

Posted on December 12, 2016

Phillipsburg resident Merlene Bailey passed away Sat. Dec 10 at the Phillips County Retirement Center in Phillipsburg at the age of 96. She was born Nov. 3, 1920 in Phillips County, the daughter of Frank & Eula (Barker) Davidson. She was a homemaker.

Survivors include her sons; Vernon of Phillipsburg and John of New Jersey; her daughters, Wanda Winter and Connie Kinser of Salina; 14 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren & 3 great great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Wed. Dec. 14 at 2:00 p.m. in the Community Church of God, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Monte Brunner officiating. Burial will follow in the Plum Creek Cemetery, Phillips County.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 9:00 Monday & 9:00 to 9:00 Tuesday at the funeral home with the family receiving friends from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday evening.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Merlene Bailey Memorial Fund.

Hays USD 489 BOE to discuss bond election survey results, underpaid positions

Posted on December 12, 2016

By GARRETT SAGER
Hays Post

At 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Rockwell Administration Center, the Hays USD 489 Board of Education will evaluate the June 7 bond election survey results, and Superintendent John Thissen will make a presentation on the underpaid positions throughout USD 489.

The board and administration hired the Fort Hays State University Docking Institute to create a survey that then could be administered over the summer months.

The intention of the survey was to give the board and idea of which components were supported in the election and which were not, as well as provide some direction toward the next bond election.

Thissen also will discuss with the board about underpaid positions throughout the district.

Two months ago, Thissen said many positions throughout USD 489 are paid well below the state average.

The board also will vote on moving the February early release date from Feb. 1 to Feb. 8.

Also up for discussion:

Hays High School curriculum guide revisions
Architect firm and facility and personnel tour review
KESA educator, parent and student survey results

Al Ryan

Posted on December 12, 2016

Al Ryan of Sharon Springs passed away at age 87 on December 7th 2016. He had been a hospice patient at the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in Denver for the past two months.

Al was born in Goodland on August 30, 1929 to Allen Thomas Kear and Ruby Violet Rice Kear.

He attended his first few years of grade school in Oakland, California while his father built ships for the World War II military effort. The remainder of his childhood was spent in Goodland attending Grant Grade School and Sherman Community High School.

Like many children of the depression, Al went to work at a young age. With prohibition winding down, he was hired as a delivery boy for local bootleggers. His summer job was working on his grandparent’s farm in Thomas County. At that time his family still didn’t have tractors and his job was to work the fields with a mule team. Another grade school job was helping at the sale barn. In addition to caring for the horses, Al helped with training and then riding them in the arena to demonstrate to buyers their levels of ability and temperament. At age 12, he started working for the Albert Holton family learning auto-body repair. This was a skill he used for much of his adult life. In his late teens, Al moved with his brothers to Montana to work in the copper mines. In 1950, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in Korea as a gunner in H Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Regiment. He was injured in action and awarded the Purple Heart.

When he returned from the war, he married Betty Daise Barkley and from this marriage one child, Judy Lynn Kear was born.

For several years, Al owned a landscaping and tree service business that operated throughout the tri-state area. For more than a decade he owned Kear Auto Body in Goodland, and later moved the business to Denver. In the 1980s, Al taught auto body repair at the Aurora Public Technical School. He spent his final working years as a Licensed Home Inspector and retired to Sharon Springs in 1990 where he lived the remainder of his life.

Al had many interests: He loved animals and couldn’t resist helping any strays he encountered; he enjoyed lengthy and frequent coffee breaks with friends; gardening; wood working and pulling elaborate practical jokes. He had a unique skill which was designing and building banjos. Although he didn’t read music, he was self-taught and became an accomplished musician. Many students sought him out as a banjo teacher and he performed in several groups over the years including the Rocky Mountain Dixieland Jazz Band.

In addition to his parents, Al was preceded in death by his sister Norma (Gail) Topliff, Gene Kear, Maurice (Jessie) Kear, Vic (Flossie) Kear, Darrell (Jolene) Kear and three nephews Lonny, Terry and Pat Kear.

He is survived by his daughter Judy, granddaughter Shawn and son-in-law Frank Finnegan all of St. Louis, along with several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial services will be held at the United Methodist Church in Sharon Springs on Friday January 6th, 2017 with Pastor Duncan Ibuuri and Reverend Paul McNall officiating. The service will begin at 11:00 a.m. with lunch immediately following.

A private burial will be scheduled in the military section of the Goodland Cemetery.

Memorials may be designated to the “Fischer House” at the Eastern Colorado Veterans Healthcare System and may be left at the service or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St., Goodland, KS 67735. The Fischer House provides a residence for out of area families of hospitalized veterans.

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.
Memorial service arrangements have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Sharon Springs.

Investigators work to determine cause of fire in downtown Newton

Posted on December 12, 2016

Fire crews on the scene of Saturday night fire in Newton-photo courtesy Newton fire and EMS

HARVEY COUNTY- Investigators in Harvey County are working to determine the cause of a weekend fire.

Just after 10 p.m. Saturday Newton Fire and EMS responded to the report of flames showing from the roof of the Clayworks building at 417 N. Main Street, according to a media release.

The first crews to arrive found fire extending through the roof on the alley side of the building.

After crews began extinguishing the fire, other crews were able to enter the rest of the building and found smoke throughout, but fortunately no fire extension.

Crews also entered adjacent buildings to check for fire extension and hot spots.

They rotated crews back to the scene throughout the night to make sure nothing flared up.

There were no injuries.

Dollar amount on damage was not available.

Exploring Kansas Outdoors: A wild goose chase

Posted on December 12, 2016

The one winter hunting sport I rarely get to enjoy is waterfowl hunting. For years I’ve looked for someone who wants a dependable partner for several goose hunts each season, but so far I only get to scratch my goose hunting itch perhaps once each year when I can find a couple guys who will let me tag along.

Last summer, I developed a friendship with Jason Austin and his son Jared from McPherson, both goose hunting enthusiasts who are partners in a waterfowl hunting lease near Little River, KS.

The warm fall kept the geese up north longer this year than most, but nasty weather in the Dakotas the past 2 or 3 weeks have finally brought them south to us. Jason had been checking with other local waterfowl hunters and watching the skies and felt Saturday was going to be good hunting at their lease, with seemingly lots of birds around, so an early Saturday morning hunt was planned.

Saturday morning dawned cloudy and frigid but was supposed to be the warmest day of the past week. Their lease is on a big lake, well off the road and out in the middle of rolling farm country. The dam itself is over 200 yards long and driving across it places you over 50 feet above the water’s surface. The field drive snaked around through hayfields and across the dam where we hooked sharply around the fence in a wheat field and drove down to the water. The headlights revealed a dandy duck blind tucked into the 6 foot tall brown grass at the water’s edge. Excitement and anticipation dropped several notches to disappointment as the beam from Jason’s headlamp shone across a lake frozen solid from end to end. Both he and Jared agreed they had never seen that lake frozen solid, as there always seemed to be a good big spot of open water out a ways in front of the blind. Friday night Jason had talked to another of the hunters on the lease and they were certain the lake was not frozen. Yet here we stood wondering if we should have left the shotguns at home and brought ice skates instead.

The Austins have some goose decoys they call “feeders” which appear to be a group of geese with their heads down feeding, also giving the appearance to geese passing overhead that they are at ease and all is well. Jason said they have used those successfully on the ice a time two before, but of course the “feeders” were snug and warm in the shed at home. Jason and friend Pete began breaking the 2 inch thick ice from a spot in front of the blind large enough to float a few decoys so we could be situated in the blind when the sun came up and hope for lots of geese flying overhead to make it all work.

A beautiful sunrise greeted us and as we optimistically listened for the honking of geese overhead, quiet talk in the blind turned to storytelling and good spirited ribbing. Jason and Pete are both parents of teenagers so I’ll guess their ages to be mid-40’s, I’m 65 and Jared is 16 so there was quite a mix of ages. Stories were spun about shots made and shots missed, about how much we’d like to hunt certain ponds that are always full of geese but are off limits, about how warm or how cold we each were as the heater was passed around, and about what was in the jerky we just ate.

All got quiet and somber in a heartbeat as the first and only wedge of geese passed high overhead. Shotguns were grabbed as Jason did his best to convince the birds that the ice was merely an optical allusion and to get them to swing by for a visit, but they weren’t buyin’ it and continued on. Each of us in our own time stood to stretch our legs and to poke our head out of the blind to survey the morning around us. I don’t know if dogs pray, but if so, God was getting’ an earful from Ross the Labrador retriever as he paced from one end of the blind to the other beggin’ for some action. Finally as the morning waned with not another goose in sight, and as the strawberry Danish was about gone, Jared, like an emergency room physician pronouncing a patient deceased and documenting time-of-death, called the hunt over and began the task of packing up.

It was a strange morning; despite the frozen lake, geese should have been crowding the sky above us, lining up to swoop by for a closer look. The old adage “the right place at the right time” really does play a part in goose hunting, as one day they’re flying over and feeding nearby and the next day they aren’t. I didn’t come home and unplug the freezer, as Jason and Jared have promised me their blind will become the right place at the right time sometime soon. Until then, I’ll remember the Danish, the jerky and the tales.

Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected]

HPD Activity Log Dec. 8-11

Posted on December 12, 2016December 12, 2016

The Hays Police Department responded to 29 traffic stops and 4 animal calls Thu., Dec. 8, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Phone/Mail Scam–2800 block Plaza Ave, Hays; 7:57 AM
Juvenile Complaint–200 block E 7th St, Hays; 9:59 AM
Animal Cruelty/Neglect–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 10:39 AM
Burglary/residence–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 5:20 AM; 11:55 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–600 block E 7th St, Hays; 12/1 12 PM; 12/8 1 PM
Animal At Large–200 block W 6th St, Hays; 2:06 PM
Phone/Mail Scam–1200 block E 31st St, Hays; 2:17 PM
Probation/Parole Violation–1000 block Fort St, Hays; 2:26 PM
Animal At Large–700 block College Dr, Hays; 4:48 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–100 block E 5th St, Hays; 5:11 PM
MV Accident-Property Damage–800 block 183 Hwy, Hays; 3:55 PM; 5:24 PM
Theft (general)–1700 block Vine St, Hays; 8:40 PM; 8:45 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 23 traffic stops and 7 animal calls Fri., Dec. 9, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Domestic Disturbance–1300 block Judith Dr, Hays; 12 AM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 12:56 AM; 12:57 AM
Driving Under the Influence–13th and Main St, Hays; 1:32 AM
Welfare Check–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 12:30 AM
Theft (general)–2500 block Vine St, Hays; 10/10/16; 10/30/16
Abandoned Vehicle–4100 block Smoky Hill Dr, Hays; 11:22 AM
MV Accident-Co Road/St Hwy–200 block E 7th St, Hays; 1:29 PM
Civil Dispute–2200 block Drum Ave, Hays; 2:15 PM
Criminal Threat–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 2:51 PM; 1:47 PM
Contempt of Court/Fail to Pay–2800 block Oak St, Hays; 3:09 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2500 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 3:40 PM
Found/Lost Property–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 4 PM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–1200 block Vine St, Hays; 12/8 4 PM; 4:45 PM
Criminal Trespass–1000 block E 37th St, Hays; 4:46 PM; 5:27 PM
Dangerous Animal–500 block W 36th St, Hays; 5:16 PM
Domestic Disturbance–100 block E 15th St, Hays; 5:41 PM; 5:42 PM
Fraud–500 block W 32nd St, Hays; 5:39 PM
Burglary/vehicle–3700 block Vine St, Hays; 7:03 PM
Animal Call–300 block Dwight Dr, Hays; 7:36 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 24 traffic stops and 3 animal calls Sat., Dec. 10, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Disturbance – Fight–100 block E 7th St, Hays; 12:40 AM; 12:41 AM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–Hays; 2:33 AM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–800 block Oak St, Hays; 2:55 AM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–1800 block Main St, Hays; 3:30 AM; 3:31 AM
Suspicious Activity–2000 block Main St Terr, Hays; 4:45 AM
Burglary/residence–1100 block Cody Ave, Hays; 9:49 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2100 block Walnut St, Hays; 10:10 AM
Found/Lost Property–100 block W 7th St, Hays; 12:20 PM
Criminal Trespass–1200 block Main St, Hays; 2:16 PM
Animal At Large–100 block E 18th St, Hays; 2:40 PM
Bicycle – Lost,Found,Stolen–500 block W 12th St, Hays; 3:14 PM
Found/Lost Property–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 3:32 PM
Suicidal Subject–2700 block Vine St, Hays; 4:10 PM
Domestic Disturbance–1200 block E 27th St, Hays; 4:23 PM
Driving While Suspended/Revoked–2700 block Vine St, Hays; 4:35 PM
Probation/Parole Violation–500 block E 8th St, Hays; 7:09 PM
Disturbance – Noise–400 block Ash St, Hays; 11:22 PM
Disturbance – Noise–100 block Downing Ave, Hays; 11:49 PM
Contempt of Court/Fail to Pay–13th and Oak St, Hays; 11:54 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 27 traffic stops and 4 animal calls Sun., Dec. 11, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Animal Call–400 block Santa Fe St, Hays; 12:14 AM
Traffic/Driving Complaint–600 block Pine St, Hays; 12:22 AM
Curfew Violation–600 block Park St, Hays; 1:34 AM
MV Accident /DUI–300 block E 24th St, Hays; 1:32 AM
Driving Under the Influence–16th and Ash St, Hays; 1:49 AM
Battery – simple–10th and Main, Hays; 2:01 AM; 2:02 AM
Domestic Disturbance–500 block E 16th St, Hays; 4:47 AM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–500 block E 16th St, Hays; 5:36 AM; 5:37 AM
Found/Lost Property–100 block W 7th St, Hays; 12 PM
Credit Card Violations–300 block W 8th St, Hays; 11/22/16 6:45 PM; 9:50 PM
Credit Card Violations–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 11/22/16 6:45 PM; 10:37 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–500 block W 21st St, Hays; 4:24 PM
Driving Under the Influence–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 7:20 PM
Assist – Other (not MV)–2200 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 7:39 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–500 block Mission Mt, Hays; 8:10 PM
Drug Offenses–800 block Elm St, Hays; 8:56 PM; 9 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–500 block E 6th St, Hays; 9:29 PM
Criminal Trespass–1000 block Country Club Dr, Hays; 9:44 PM
Battery – simple–Enersys Rd, Hays; 10:36 PM

The Rahjes Report: December 12, 2016

Posted on December 12, 2016

Hello from Agra!

We are now less than a month from the start of the 2017 Kansas Legislative Session and the agenda is being developed and plans are being made. Last Monday, new and returning members of the Kansas House of Representatives and Kansas Senate met to elect their leadership team for the next two years. We are now anticipating which committees we will be assigned to and if we move offices in the state house.

Last spring, I sent a constituent survey out to gain insight on what your thoughts were on a number of issues and wanted to share some of them with you leading up to January. This week it is agricultural land valuation.

The election this fall brought change to the make-up of the legislative bodies and one of the issues that once again is being talked about is how agricultural land is being valued. Several years ago, legislation was passed to value agricultural land based on its production value. (It is more complicated than that, but that is the basis of discussion.) All property owners continue to feel the pinch of high property tax rates on all real estate, but to simply say agriculture is not paying its fair share is dangerous and disingenuous. Not surprisingly, those who participated in the constituent survey overwhelmingly do not support restructuring how agricultural land is valued for production purposes or a surcharge on farmland. Respondents also are not in favor of an increase in fuel tax, or changes on sales tax exemptions for charitable and religious organizations, manufacturing and agricultural equipment.

This fall there have been two topics that have been the top on constituent’s minds; Budget and Schools. There are several ideas being floated around, the first will be a revisit of the efficiency study which was released at the start of last session and look for ways to save money by combining services or pooling resources, the second will be adjusting the tax structure. Any solution needs to have a long term plan, not a shock to the system to solve the issues in one package and not bring an honest evaluation of how it could bring another round of unintended consequences to the taxpayers of Kansas.

I look forward to seeing you out and about in the district before the legislature convenes in January. If you have questions, or if I can be of service, please contact me: Ken Rahjes, 1798 E. 900 Rd. Agra, KS 67621 or call (785) 302-8416. You can follow me on Facebook at Ken for Kansas or my website, www.kenforkansas.com.

Thank you for the opportunity to be your representative!

Ken Rahjes, (R-Agra) is the 110th District state representative.

Judge to hear arguments in lawsuit to free presidential electors

Posted on December 12, 2016

Electoral college map image courtesy CSPAN

DENVER (AP) — A judge will hear arguments in a lawsuit by two Colorado electors challenging the requirement that they vote for the state winner of the presidential election.

The two Democratic electors want to be freed of the requirement that they vote for Hillary Clinton so they can cut a deal with Republicans from other states to make someone other than Donald Trump president. They are part of a longshot attempt to keep Trump out of the White House when the electoral college meets Dec. 19.

Clinton won Colorado on Nov. 8 while losing the presidential election. Trump garnered 306 electoral votes to her 232. But a small group of electors from Colorado and Washington state hope to unite Democrats and Republicans behind a consensus Republican pick other than Trump.

Steven E. Newton

Posted on December 12, 2016

Steven E. Newton, age 69, passed away Monday, December 05, 2016 at his home in McCook, NE.

Steven was born June 10, 1947 to parents Herbert and Betty Jean (Esch) Newton in McCook. He was one of four children growing up in McCook, graduating from McCook High with the class of 1965.

Steven enlisted in the US Navy on July 11, 1967. He proudly served his country until his honorable discharge on April 5, 1971.

Steven enjoyed woodworking, playing cards and following his grandchildren’s sporting events. Since his return to McCook two years ago, the highlight of Steven’s week was getting together with his high school classmates for lunch at Sehnert’s every Friday.

Steven was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church.

He is survived by his children, Kristi Geschwentner and Lee Moore of McCook, Chad Newton of Hays, KS, Amber (David) Koshiol of Hays, KS, Darren (Jenny) Newton of Cimarron, KS, and Rusty Newton of Great Bend, KS; sisters, Diana (Terry) Butler of Omaha, NE and Gina Newton of Bloomington, IN; as well as his eight grandchildren, Emily Geschwentner and friend Brad Garrick, Kelsea Geschwentner and friend Juan Zermeno, Austin Jantz, Chase Newton, Caitlin Farrell, Dayvean Koshiol, Dylan Newton, and Madison Newton.

Steven was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Lyle Newton; and grandson, Grant Farrell.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, December 17, 2016 at St. John’s Lutheran Church of rural McCook with Pastor Derick Brown officiating.

Inurnment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials may be given in Steven’s name.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Marjorie ‘Marj’ (Hoffman) Schumacher

Posted on December 12, 2016

Marjorie “Marj” (Hoffman) Schumacher, 79, Hays, died Friday, December 9, 2016 at The University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas.

She was born September 9, 1937 in Hays the daughter of Nick and Odelia “Tillie” (Dreiling) Hoffman. She graduated from Girls Catholic High School in 1955. She worked for many years as a banking professional. She was a member of St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, the St. Nicholas of Myra Ladies Guild, and was very active in the church, helping with numerous functions and serving on the church finance committee. She was a member of the Prairie Garden Club and enjoyed gardening. She also enjoyed sewing, FHSU Athletics, and spending time with her family and grandchildren.

Survivors include two sons; Marc Schumacher and companion Shawna Gannaway of Lawrence, and Brad Schumacher and wife Sarah of Hays, two daughters; Chris Markus and husband Tim, and Michele Pfannenstiel and husband Dan, all of Hays, six grandchildren; Taylor Pfannenstiel, Kylee Pfannenstiel, Hope Schumacher, Morgan Markus, Noah Schumacher, and Isaac Schumacher, Marc’s companion Shawna’s children; Payton Gannaway and Megan Gannaway, two sisters; Rita Gottschalk and husband LeRoy of Hays, and Pauline Moore of Overland Park, KS, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother; Nicholas Hoffman, Jr., a sister; Rosaline “Rose” Clark, a brother-in-law; Gary Moore, and a great nephew; Kaden Gottschalk.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Friday, December 16, 2016 at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, 2901 E. 13th Street. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 8:00 on Thursday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Friday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. A parish vigil service and rosary will be at 6:30 pm on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Prairie Garden Club or to the church, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com or via email at [email protected]

Mary Louise Schoenberger

Posted on December 12, 2016

Mary Louise Schoenberger, age 86, of Oakley, died Thursday, December 8, 2016 at the Logan County Manor, Oakley. She was born September 24, 1930 in Topeka, Kansas to Sydney Carl Stwalley and Flora Doris (Hudson) Stwalley. On September 18, 1950, she married Charles L. “Charlie” Williams. He passed away on February 24, 1996. Mary married Joe “Bud” Schoenberger on September 25, 1998 in Oakley, he passed away on September 21, 2011.

Mary enjoyed playing cards, liked to play bingo, and spending time with family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Sid and Flora, her husbands: Charles L. Williams and Joe “Bud” Schoenberger, and her sister Dorothy Sander.

Survivors include her son Charles Williams of Kremnling, Colorado, 3 grandchildren: Heather Skufca, Charlie Williams, and Mathew Williams, and 4 great grandchildren.

Memorial Service: 3:00 p.m. Friday, December 16, 2016 at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Oakley with Fr. Donald Pfannenstiel officiating. No visitation. Inurnment will follow in the Oakley Cemetery. Memorials to Oakley Senior Center and Logan County Manor may be sent in care of Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, P.O. Box 221, Oakley 67748. Condolences: www.kennedykosterfh.com.

🎥 Upgrade to golf course putting green among recent city projects

Posted on December 12, 2016

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Assistant City Manager Jacob Woods regularly provides updates to Hays city commissioners about projects and other work city employees have been doing.

In November, Woods talked about many things including the new solar pedestrian crossing sign on Hall Street, a school bus rescue training conducted by the Hays Fire Department, the cleaning of about 21 miles of sewer lines, fall planting of trees on various city properties and upgrades to the Aubel-Bickle skate park, the Hays dog park and the putting green at the Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course.

Lois Margaret McHarness Cohn

Posted on December 12, 2016

Lois Margaret McHarness Cohn, age 94, of Hays, KS passed away Thursday, December 1, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Society, Hays, KS. She was born April 13, 1922 in Leon, Iowa to Clarence and Sylvia (Knox) McHarness. She was a graduate of North Platte High School and also went to Beauty School in North Platte, Nebraska. She married Theodore “Ted” Cohn July 15, 1940. He preceded her in death in 2007.

Lois worked as a beautician for many years as well as selling Avon and being a homemaker. She loved gardening, cooking, reading, playing cards, Bible study and Chinese checkers. She was a member of the North Platte First Christian Church where she was baptized. She lived most of her life in North Platte, Nebraska until 2005 where she moved with Ted to Colby, KS due to Ted’s health to be near Joyce. In 2010 she moved to Hays, KS when Joyce and Cal moved there.

She is survived by her daughter, Joyce (Cohn) Mahin and husband Cal of Hays, KS and their daughters and their families, Joslyn Brungardt, Liesel Keller (Jim) and Chandis Borger (Craig) all of Hays, KS; a son, Marvin E. Cohn and wife Jilene of Denver, CO and children and their families, Todd Cohn (Gloria), Brian Cohn (Shawn) all of Denver, CO, Lanette Prince (James) of Mountain Home, Idaho; 7 great grandchildren, 6 step-great grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Lee Cohn (Laurel) of Grand Island, Nebraska as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Goodbyes are not forever, Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean we’ll miss you until we meet again.

Cremation was chosen with a celebration of life service to be held in Nebraska at a later date.

Arrangements in care of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected]