Alvin “Al” Pfannenstiel, age 90, of Leawood, Kansas formerly of Great Bend and Hays, passed away Sunday, September 7, 2014 at Sweet Life of Brookdale in Overland Park. He was born October 20, 1923 in Munjor, Kansas to Joe B. and Pauline (Befort) Pfannenstiel. Al graduated from Hays High School in 1942. He married Mildred Staab October 19, 1949 in Hays, Kansas.

Al was a store manager with Safeway and then became owner and operator of the Airliner Motel in Great Bend for 18 years and then Al’s College Market in Hays for 9 years. Al could be referred to as the consummate working man. Work was his hobby, whether as a business owner or in retirement when gardening, maintenance tasks and small building project kept him busy. He was immediately drafted after graduation serving in the United States Air Force as a radio operator but never went abroad during WW II.

He is survived by his wife, Mildred; a son, Don (Mitzi)Pfannenstiel of leawood, Kansas; two grandchildren, Kenedy and Campbell Pfannenstiel; a brother, Herbert Pfannenstiel of Santa Barbara, CA; and a sister, Cecilia Davidson, Mountain View, CA.

He was Preceded in death by his siblings, Father Celestine Pfannenstiel, Herman ( Nellie) Pfannenstiel, Ignatius (Philomena) Pfannenstiel, Colletta (Gerard) Dreiling, Adelaide (Robert) Bell, Bertie (Frank) Leikam , and Clara (Irvin) Walters, Betty Lu Pfannenstiel and Richard Davidson.

The family would like to thank the staff of the nursing facility, Sweet Life of Brookdale, and of St. Luke’s Hospice, for their care, service and support during the last 30 days.

Funeral Mass will be 12:00 Noon, Friday, September 12, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hays, KS. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held Friday 5-8 PM and Saturday 9 AM – 9:30 AM at Brock’s – Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine St. A parish vigil will be 6 PM Thursday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Cure of Ars School, % Al Pfannenstiel, 9401 Mission Rd. Leawood, KS.  Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected].