Kathryn Ann (Wessel) Schieferecke passed away at her home surrounded by loving family, on January 26, 2018. Kathy was born to Libory and Elsie (Schwarz) Wessel at their farm near Selden, KS on May 31, 1937. She would become the oldest of 9 children, quickly assuming her role as caregiver and supporter. Kathy attended Cresco Country School up to the third grade, then Selden Grade and High School, graduating in the class of 1955. After graduation, Kathy worked as a caregiver for area families and at the Selden café and bank.
On April 18, 1960, Kathy was united in marriage to William (Bill) Schieferecke in Selden, Kansas. They watched their family grow with the addition of 8 children, while working to build a wonderful life on their family farm. Together, Bill & Kathy had many adventures—traveling to Las Vegas, California, New York, Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, Yellowstone, Green Bay, Fort McCoy, Costa Rica, the Panama Cannel, and South Africa. Perhaps the most striking aspect of their relationship together was their undying love and their never-ending support for each other.
Kathy was a member of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church and the St. Frances Sodality. Kathy had many talents that she shared with her children, nieces, nephews, and the community. She was involved in 4-H as a project leader, and supported her children to many blue and purple ribbons. Kathy was well known for her incredible baking skills. Anyone who tasted her cinnamon rolls or chocolate chip cookies knew they had tasted the work of an artist. Somehow, despite raising 8 good kids, she had time to become an extraordinary seamstress. Kathy sewed her children’s clothes, prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses, suits, bedspreads, and car upholstery! She was a quilter with a talent that created beautiful quilts for her grandchildren as graduation gifts. When she knew her time on Earth was limited, she put her sewing skills in overdrive and created several quilts, knowing that her grandchildren would have a special gift from Grandma when they graduated. This vision and talent resulted in so many beautiful creations. She could also crochet, and the baby blankets she made for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren are treasured by many to this day. But that’s not all! She was a hard-working farmer, and together with Bill, they created a farm where many hours of hard work, sweat, tears and more than a little blood was shed. She could plant a mean garden, milk cows, butcher chickens, can fruits and vegetables, make jelly, sort cattle and hogs, and feed the harvest crew while driving the wheat truck…all with children in tow. But above all of this, Kathy was most known for her caring and loving spirit. Kathy loved her babies…children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends…and not one of them could resist the sleep spell she would cast on them while rocking in her chair, softly singing a lullaby. Kathy’s commitment to family, dedication to hard work, strong faith, and caring spirit left a legacy that will ensure she is never really gone, but lives on in the lives of so many.
Kathy is survived by her loving husband, Bill, of the farm; her sons Larry & Janet of Bennington; Bernie & Wendy of Studley; and Ray & Courtney of Parker, CO; daughters Eilene & Jim Minnix of Scott City; Linda & Larry Betzen of Wichita; Joan Schieferecke of McPherson; Carol & John Towey of Goddard; and Anna & Jesse Nippert of Wamego; 23 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; brothers Robert & Pat of Selden; Bill & Carol of Dresden; sisters Margie Blaske of Salina; Martha & Fred Wassemiller of Monument; and Betty Hickert of Selden; brother in law Jim & Sue Dellere of Salina, sister-in-law Karla Wessel of Selden, and many, many nieces, nephews and friends.
Waiting with the angels to greet her into Heaven are her parents, Libo and Elsie Wessel, sister Mary Dellere, brothers John and Art, brothers-in-law Gene Blaske and Rick Hickert, and many friends and relatives.
Funeral services are planned for Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Hoxie with burial to follow in the St. Frances Cabrini Cemetery. A visitation will be held Monday, January 29, 2018 from 11:00 A.M. until 4:30 P.M. at Mickey Leopold Funeral Home, and 6:00-8:00 at St. Frances Cabrini Church, with Vigil services beginning at 7:00. Family will be receiving friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Fr. Vincent Thu Laing Mission Project, the Fr. Ben Saw Mission Project or the St. Frances Cabrini Church Building Fund.