March 10, 1927 – April 17, 2019

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Jerome N. Heim of Hoxie, Kansas passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2019 at Hays Medical Center at the age of 88. He was born to William and Marie (Mannebach) Heim, at their home in Leoville, Kansas on September 14, 1930. Jerome grew up and attended school in Leoville. While in school, he enjoyed playing in the band and participating in basketball. During high school he helped his father by working in his store and helping with construction projects. He graduated from the Leoville High School with the Class of 1948. He entered the United States Army and served from July 24, 1952 until May 28, 1954 in the Korean War. He was stationed in Suwon, Korea and held the rank of Sergeant in the 78th Division Anti-Aircraft Artillery Radar Division. Nineteen men were under his command. Jerome served in the Army Reserves until he was honorably discharged on July 23, 1960.

After serving in Korea, Jerome returned home and worked with his father doing construction work and helping to build Highway 24. He decided he did not want to do either of those things the rest of his life and made the decision to go to Denver, Colorado to attend the Television-Radio Repair Institute. Completing his training, Jerome returned home and opened Heim Radio and TV in the Odd Fellow Building in 1956. In 1960, he moved his store to 724 Main Street and, In 1969, he built a new store in the current location. In 1984, he added Heim Auto Sales to his business. From 1972 to 1982, Jerome owned and operated Heim TV and Appliance in Hays, Kansas.

Jerome and Pauline Walden were united in marriage on June 4, 1958 at the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Hoxie, Kansas. They celebrated their 60th Anniversary last June. They became the parents of six children, Sue, Nick, Bob, Steve, Alan, and Doug. He was a life-long member of the Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree. He was a member of the Hoxie Lions Club, serving as secretary; the Hoxie Elks Lodge 2415, serving as the 3rd Exalted Ruler; Hoxie Chamber of Commerce; he served on the St. Frances Cabrini Church Building Committee in 1979, served as a Bank Director of Peoples State Bank Rexford, Kansas, and was a member of the Grinnell VFW Post #2864. When asked what his hobbies were, everyone would say “work”; however, he did enjoy attending his grandkids activities, watching them race, and playing cards.

Jerome is survived by his wife, Pauline of the home, Hoxie, Kansas; daughter, Sue Katt and husband Allan of Hoxie, Kansas; sons, Nicholas Heim and wife Beverly of Hoxie, Kansas, Robert Heim of Hoxie, Kansas, Steven Heim and wife Sheila of Hoxie, Kansas, Alan Heim and wife Christy of Hoxie, Kansas, and Douglas Heim of Hoxie, Kansas; brothers, Gerald Heim and wife Helen of Hoxie, Kansas, Joseph Heim and wife Sharron of Carmel, Indiana, Don Heim of Phoenix, Arizona, Bill A. Heim and wife Grace of San Diego, California; sisters, Bonnie Lager and husband Alfred of Hoxie, Kansas and Mary Niblock and husband Don of Hoxie, Kansas; grandchildren, Jared Truetken and wife Andrea, Caitlin Katt, Connor Katt, Ryan Bellew, Misty Stewart and husband Jason, Mathew Heim and wife Brooke, Aaron Heim, Christopher Heim and wife Taylor, Colin Heim, Landon Heim, Abigail Heim, Adam Heim and Makenna Heim; and great-grandchildren Jenna Bondegard, Emily Truetken, Allie Truetken, Brayden Stewart, Kasyn Stewart, Gordon Heim, and Savannah Heim .

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Marie Heim; brother, James Heim; sister, Eileen Thompson; sisters-in-law, Jan Heim and Gail Heim, and brother-in-law, Phil Thompson.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, April 22, 2019, 10:30 A.M. at the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Hoxie, Kansas. Interment will be immediately following the service in the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home in Hoxie, Saturday, April 20, 2019 from 1:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. and on Sunday April 21, 2019 from 1:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. with family receiving friends from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. The Vigil and Rosary Service will be held at 6:00 P.M. at the Funeral Home on Sunday, April 21, 2019. The family suggests memorials to the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church Remodeling Fund or the Sheridan County Amusement Company and may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. Online condolences may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com

Jerome was a man who loved his Lord Jesus Christ, his family, and life itself. He was a long-time, friendly face on the Main Street of Hoxie, Kansas. Everyone has a “Jerome” story or can speak of the deal he gave them when purchasing a new appliance, T.V., furniture, or car. Family and friends will carry his memory in their hearts for all time to come.

Rosella May (Balls) Hoch passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2019 at the Ellsworth Medical Center in Ellsworth, Kansas at the age of 95. She was born on October 27, 1923 to the late George and Clara (McIntosh) Balls. Rosella grew up in the Hays, Kansas area and graduated from Hays High School in 1941. She then went straight to work for the Bell Telephone Company where she worked as a switchboard operator. Rosella met the love of her life, Ernest Hoch, at the Walker Air Base during a USO dance in 1945. They were united in marriage on October 21, 1947 and were blessed with two children: Robert and Steve.

Rosella and Ernest moved to Wilson, Kansas in 1947 where she was a stay at home wife and mother and helped her husband run Hoch Lumber Company until 1990. Rosella stayed busy with various clubs such as Mother’s Club, card clubs, and being a Cub Scout Leader. She also belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary for over 60 years and was a member of the Episcopal Church in Hays.

Rosella liked to be outdoors and loved her flower and vegetable gardens. She also enjoyed canning, quilting, and sewing. Rosella was very proud of her children and grandchildren, and loved to speak on their successes. She was vivacious, very sure of herself, and stubborn, as she lived out her years independently in her own home up to the last few weeks she was with us.

Rosella is survived by her son Robert Hoch and wife Shirley of Austin, TX; five grandchildren, Garett Hoch, Dave Hoch and wife Kristin, Dr. Heather Hoch and husband Chris, Christopher Hoch and wife Christina, and Anthony Hoch; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents George and Clara Balls; her beloved husband Ernest Hoch; son Steve Hoch; and brothers, George Jr., James, and Frederick Balls.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 19, 2019 at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Wilson. Burial will follow in the Wilson City Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Thursday, April 18, 2019, from 2:00pm until 8:00pm, and Friday before the service from 9:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the American Legion Auxiliary or the Wilson Senior Center and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, P.O. Box 533, Wilson, KS 67490.

Lora Belle (Smith) Hastings was born on February 13, 1930 in Spearville, KS. She was the first of three children born to Mike and Hazel (Crouse) Smith. Later that decade, brother Chester Dale and sister Patricia Ann would complete the family. Her early years were not easy as she grew up during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl Days in southern Hodgeman County. She attended one room schools for her early education then studied and graduated from Jetmore High School in 1948. She then went to Cosmetology school in Dodge City and had a short career in hair dressing.

December 19, 1948 was the day Lora Belle married James Grant Hastings of Jetmore at the Jetmore Methodist Church. After a short stay in Jetmore, Jim and Lora Belle moved to the farm southeast of Hanston. To this marriage was born five children; Steven LaVern, Nancy Irene, Lawrence Alan, James Gordon, and Arnold Lee.

It was to this family that Lora Belle devoted her life. A farmer’s wife and homemaker was her title but so much went into these roles. Helping with farm work until children grew up enough to help was some of her early work. Being a mother of five children would be her biggest and most important responsibility. Jim and Lora Belle were members of the Hanston United Methodist Church so the children were “raised up right in the church”. They also instilled a strong work ethic that would serve the children well. This way of rearing children was not unique to them, as most “farm kids” from that era shared such an upbringing.

A growing family that needed a steady and bigger farm income was one of Lora Belle’s biggest challenges. The result was lots of chickens. One thousand chicks were purchased early in the spring then allowed to “free-range” all summer. In the fall, the current laying hens in the two-story barn were sold, the barn was cleaned, and the new laying hens moved in. Lora Belle was the chief egg gatherer, washer, grader, and egg case filler. Jim or the sons feed the chickens. It was a big and busy operation that went on for years.

When Lora Belle wasn’t busy working with the eggs or caring for her family; she worked to keep a beautiful yard and to plant a garden. The result was a perfect lawn, colorful flowers, and good, healthy food on the table.

Like us all, Lora Belle’s life was not a perfect one, but she did know Jesus. Her bible that she received at ten years of age was worn and filled with clippings of prayers and other Christian writings. Her church attendance dropped as she grew older but she would always watch the Billy Graham Crusades and some of the Sunday church services. She suffered back-to-back heartaches as she lost her husband and one of her sons. Jim died June 20, 1999 after fifty years of marriage. On January 6, 2001 she was told that her son, Larry, had died at his home in Wichita.

Lora Belle’s final four and a half years of her life was at the Hodgeman County Long Term Care Center. She received loving and compassionate care from all the staff. It was reported that she made the day more enjoyable for those around her with her humorous remarks. It was the home and care she needed to finish her time on earth but as the bible tells us “this is not our home.” She is now home.

Lora Belle leaves behind son Steve of Hanston, KS, daughter Nancy (Mike) Graves of Wichita, KS, son Jim (Margaret) of Stilwell, KS, and son Arnold (Cory) of Merriam, KS. Six grandchildren from the Kansas City area survive. Jim and Margaret’s children Adam, Emily, and Aaron, Arnold and Cory’s children Amy (Collin), Carly, and Noah. Also surviving is brother Chet Smith of Wichita, KS and sister Pat Snyder of Dodge City, KS. Many nephews, nieces, and cousins will also mourn her passing.

The funeral services will be held April 23, 2019 at 10:00 am at the Hanston United Methodist Church with Pastor Cyd Stein presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Beckwith Funeral Home, Jetmore. Burial will be in the Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore.

Memorials may be given to Hodgeman County Long Term Care Center or Hanston United Methodist Church in care of Beckwith Funeral Home, Box 663 Jetmore, KS 67854.