WaKeeney resident Mary Lou Goetz passed away Saturday, November 8, 2014, at Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital, WaKeeney.  She was born March 25, 1934, in Quinter, Kansas, to Louis H. and Rose (Haselhorst) Berens.

Mary Lou attended Banner Elementary School, and graduated from Collyer High School.  On August 12, 1952, Mary Lou was united in marriage to Virgil J. “Jim” Goetz at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Collyer.  They enjoyed 62 years of marriage together.  Alongside her husband, Mary Lou was very active with the Eagles, having been a charter member of F.O.E. #3774 Auxiliary.  She was a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary.  Mary Lou was also a member of Christ the King Catholic Church and Altar Society.  She worked for the ASCS office in WaKeeney from 1954 to 1989, when she retired.  Mary Lou led a very active life and cherished time spent with her family, friends and community, all the way up until just shortly before her death.  She enjoyed doing needlework, and loved to donate her time to the organizations she belonged to.

Survivors include her husband, Jim, of the family home; two children, Diana L. (Leiker) and husband Edward J. McCarthy, of Milton, Florida, and Leon E. Leiker and wife Debbie of Olathe; five grandchildren, Eric Sams, Angela Sams, Anthony Sams, Chad Leiker and wife Kelly, and Joel Leiker and wife Lindsey; eight great-grandchildren, Aubrey Sams, Kaitlynn Roll, Kalex Lundgren, Kamille Kirk, Lauren Leiker, Jacob Leiker, Noah Leiker, and Chase Leiker; one brother, Robert L. “Bob” Berens and wife Joan, of WaKeeney; and three sisters, Darlene and husband Kenneth Stenzel of Overland Park, Joan and husband Gene Deges of Aurora, Colorado, and Karen and husband Donald Coons of Sebastian, Florida.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at Christ the King Catholic Church, WaKeeney.  Burial will be in the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery, WaKeeney.

Visitation will be Tuesday, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  A parish vigil service will be at 7:00 p.m. Both will be held at the funeral home in WaKeeney.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Robert D. Hansen Diabetes Fund or O’Connell Youth Ranch.  Checks made to the organization may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS  67672.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.schmittfuneral.com.