Victor (Vic) Francis Kinderknecht, 81, of WaKeeney, KS, passed away on August 18, 2018.

Vic was born in Ellis, KS on June 18, 1937, to Jacob and O’tillia (Bittel) Kinderknecht. He graduated from Ellis High School. Upon graduation, he left to join the Army and was stationed in Germany.

Vic was married to Sylvia (Eberle) on October 18, 1967, in Ellis, they were married 42 years.

Vic worked as a car salesman for Harries Motor Co and Unruh Chevrolet for over 35 years. Vic enjoyed time with family and friends, playing Pinochle, and sharing his love and knowledge of history and politics. Vic never knew a stranger and had many friends. He had a passion for the outdoors and growing things, even tending the garden at Long Term Care. Music was a joy in his life as he loved to play the piano and accordion by ear. Vic loved to share his collection of over 300 nutcrackers. He was also actively involved in Christ the King and was a 3rd degree Knight.

Vic’s faith was his stronghold and foundation for his family and life and has passed so much of his faith onto his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild.

Vic is survived by four daughters; Sara (Darren) Dunn, WaKeeney; Michelle Wilson, Oakley; Tina (Brad) Walt, WaKeeney; Edwina Kinderknecht, Seiberg, Germany; and a son, Eric (Mandie) Kinderknecht, WaKeeney; 12 grandchildren, Kylie (Jordan) Bleske, Kacie and Dillon Dunn, Cameron Staples, Katelyn Wilson, Austin, Hannah, and Kelsey Kinderknecht, Carson and Brecken Walt, a great-grandchild; Kelton Bleske; brother; Ralph Kinderknecht, sister; Beatina Weber and many other family and friends.

Vic was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Sylvia; six brothers and three sisters.

Visitation will be Monday, August 20, 2018, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a parish vigil service and rosary following at 7:00 p.m. at Schmitt Funeral Home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 21, 2018, at Christ the King Catholic Church, WaKeeney. Burial will follow in the Christ the King Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Trego County-Lemke Memorial Long Term Care outside garden or Hospice of Phillipsburg. Contributions may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

The family of Vic wishes to thank Dr. Gordon Lang, WaKeeney LTC staff, Mary Stithem, and Regina and Jody of Hospice.

HASTINGS, NE – Eldon Duane Gilbert, 85, formerly of Smith Center, KS passed away on Thursday August 16, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Hastings Village in Hastings, NE. He was a retired police officer.

He was born the son of Lois (Biggs) Deircks & Loyd Gilbert on January 30, 1933 in Lebanon, KS.

Eldon served many years in law enforcement including two terms as the Smith County Sheriff, the City of Smith Center Chief of Police, a security officer in Denver, CO, City Marshall of Logan, KS as well as various other jobs such as a school bus driver, laundry mat and snack shop owner and a semi driver.

He is survived by his son Terry Scott of Oakley, KS; a grandson Brayden; a sister Laneta Karsting of Hastings, NE; Brother in law Dale Scott of Albuquerque, NM; nephew Col. Tory Scott (Diane); nieces Connie Gledhill (Bruce), Linda Johnson and Julie Richards (Greg).

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Betty Scott.

Click HERE for service details.

Ottilia “Tillie” Kuhn, 98, Victoria, died Friday, August 17, 2018, at The Regent, in
Wichita, Kansas.

She was born October 2, 1919, in Severin, KS, to Peter J. and Barbara (Windholz) Miller. She married Alfred J. Kuhn on January 27, 1941 at Severin. She was a homemaker and worked at St. John’s Rest Home in Victoria. Her memberships include The Basilica of St. Fidelis, the Daughters of Isabella and the Christian Mothers, all of Victoria. She enjoyed cooking for her family, quilting, working in the garden, and traveling to the casinos with her friends.

Survivors include, six daughters Elaine (Dallas) Roberts, Carol (Roger) Wiggett, and Tillie (Jerry) Brin, all of Wichita. Delores (Mike) Bohm, of Redmond, WA. Stella Wise, Derby, and Mary Jane (Stan) Dreiling, Hays; two sons Marvin Kuhn and Joseph (Diane) Kuhn, both of Victoria; sister-in-law Pauline Miller of Hays; 18 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and two on the way.

She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers; Hilary (Regina), Norbert (Mary), Cele, Robert (Lorene), and Pat Miller, one sister; Mary (Rich) Wagner, a daughter-in-law; Bernita Kuhn, and two great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 21, 2018, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, KS. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Monday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, Hays, and from 9:00 until 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday at the church. A vigil service will be held at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Christian Mothers and Daughters of Isabella rosary, all on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Basilica of St. Fidelis, or to the cemetery fund, in care of the funeral home. Condolences and memories of Tillie may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Mary Lou Spaulding of Rexburg, Idaho, passed away at her home on August 14, 2018 at the age of 78. Mary Lou was born to Claude and Hilda Thacker of Coville, Washington on June 30, 1940, in the front seat of her dad’s pickup in front of the hospital. She was seventh child of eleven. In 1962, at the age of 22, she married the love of her life, Brent Spaulding in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.

Mary Lou was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved flowers, gardening, music of all sorts, and a good laugh. Though she stood at 4 feet, 9 inches, her family remembers her having a huge and feisty spirit as well as a patient and loving heart.

She will be greatly missed by her surviving family, though they take comfort knowing she is happy in heaven doing cart wheels again.

She is survived by her husband, Brent Spaulding, her children; Marilyn (Dale) Burns, Merlin (Nancy) Spaulding, Catherine (Russell) Robertson, Carlene Spaulding and Barbara (Brent) Sessions, her grandchildren; Don (Katie) Burns, Chelsea (Curtis) Mayor, Allison (James) Flinn, Darrel Burns, Mary Ann Spaulding, Kiana Robertson, Karli Sessions and Treagan Sessions, her great-grandchildren; Kyree Burns, Joshua Burns, Jayne Burns and Scarlette Burns, her brothers; Chad (Barbara) Thacker, Dallas (Janet) Thacker and Nile (Gloria) Thacker and her brother-in-law, Carl Jensen.

She was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Helen Burns, six sisters; Claude Thacker, Joyce (Gene) Maughn, Anne (Jack) Stokes, Faye (Ted) Taylor, Merle (Carl) Jenson, Linda Compton and one brother, Don Thacker.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 18, 2018 at the Henry Fork Stake Center. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home and again from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Burton Cemetery.

Verna Lang, age 85, of Hays, KS, passed away on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, KS. Verna was born on January 29, 1933 in Hays, KS to Hilarius and Barbara (Kinderknecht) Eberle. On May 17, 1949 she married Eugene Lang in Hays, KS. Together, they shared 39 years of marriage until his passing on July 5, 1988.

Verna was employed by ABC Hallmark in Hays and retired in 1989 after working 20 plus years. She was a member of Immaculate of Heart of Mary Catholic Church and Daughters of Isabella both of Hays. She enjoyed; cooking, baking, quilting, bingo, gambling and playing pinochle at the Hays Senior Center. She made sure everyone in the family had one of her handmade quilts and her good cooking. Verna adored and loved her family and she will be dearly missed.

She is survived by her two sons, Bob Lang and his wife Debbie of Canyon, TX, Jeff Lang and his wife Brenda of McKinney, TX; two daughters, Judy Smith and her husband Les of Hays, Chris Haas and her husband Pat of Garden City; brother, Virgil Eberle; sister, Alice Brungardt; eight grandchildren, Debbie, Craig, Keith, Julie, Eric, Sarah, Madison, Meaghan and nine great-grandchildren.

Verna is preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Marvin Eberle.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M., on Saturday, August 18, 2018 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine St., Hays. KS. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Friday, August 17 and from 9:00-9:45 A.M. on Saturday, August 18, both at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd St., Hays, KS 67601.

A Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 7:00 P.M., followed by a parish vigil service on Friday both at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions can be made to the church, Hays Senior Center or to the donor’s choice. Contributions can be left or mailed to the funeral home.

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

Judith Deiser, born June 16, 1941, died Wed., Aug. 15, 2018, in Colby, Kansas.

Services are pending with Baalmann Mortuary, Colby.

Verna Lang, age 85, of Hays, KS, died on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, KS.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M., on Saturday, August 18, 2018 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine St., Hays. KS. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Friday, August 17 and from 9:00-9:45 A.M. on Saturday, August 18, both at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd St., Hays, KS 67601.

A Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 7:00 P.M., followed by a parish vigil service on Friday both at the funeral home.

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

Loyd “Bob” James Keenan passed away on Monday, August 13, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska at the age of 84. He was born on September 2, 1933 in Jennings, Kansas to Edger James and Ellen “Ruth” (Harris) Keenan. He attended the Jennings School and graduated from Jennings High School with the Class of 1951. After graduation, he enlisted and served in the United States Air Force. In the Air Force, he worked as an airplane mechanic. He never lost his love and fascination with airplanes. After serving his country, he returned home to Jennings, and Miss Lila Adams caught his attention. Loyd “Bob” and Lila were united in marriage in Jennings, Kansas on May 15, 1959. They were blessed with four children, Ricky James, Debbie, Kathy, and Tammy.

After Loyd and Lila were married, they lived in Oberlin. He worked for Bob Boultinghouse Construction, where among other things; he learned to operate heavy equipment. They moved to Jennings where he started his own Heavy Equipment business. In 1971, Loyd went to work as the Supervisor of the Decatur County Road and Bridge Department.

Loyd was a very hard worker, but he also enjoyed his life. Among some of his favorite things to do was yard work, and he was an animal lover. His passion for airplanes continued throughout his life. If a plane flew over, he was outside identifying it and could tell you everything about it. Tinkering with cars and motorcycles was another of his hobbies. He and Lila spent many hours riding the motorcycle. He was a prankster and would sneak up on someone and scare them half to death. You always had to be on your guard when Loyd was around because you never knew what prank he might pull on you.

Loyd is survived by his wife, Lila of Oberlin, Kansas; son, Ricky James Keenan and wife Pamela of Norton, Kansas; daughters, Debbie Ayers and husband Richard of Dodge City, Kansas, Kathy Harms and husband Roy of Scott City, Kansas and Tammy Touslee and husband Rick of Oberlin, Kansas; fourteen grandchildren; thirty-three great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Imogene Keenan; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edger James and Ellen “Ruth” Keenan; brothers, Neil Keenan and Boyd Keenan; sisters, Dorothy Davis and Edna Smith; grandson, Dustin; and great-grandchildren, Natalee and Jagar.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, August 17, 2018 at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Clayton Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, August 16, 2018 at Pauls Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Loyd J. Keenan Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of Pauls Funeral Home, 121 N. Penn Avenue, Oberlin, Kansas 67749. Online condolences may be left at www.paulsfh.com

Loyd liked the homey, simple things of life. He had work-worn hands and a heart of gold. He loved his family and held them in his heart. He will be missed, but the memory of him will always be with his family and friends.