Gordon Joseph Zimmerman, 79, Hays, died Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at his home.

He was born December 5, 1936 in Schoenchen, Kansas, the son of Matt and Clara (Wolf) Zimmerman. He attended Schoenchen Grade School and graduated from Schoenchen High School in 1953. He married Alvina “Tootsie” Herrman on September 12, 1953 in Liebenthal. He and his wife were successful business owners, owning and operating Gordon’s Carpet Center for 60 years. He loved his family and friends and enjoyed playing pool, playing cards, and golf, and was very much a people person that loved to visit and spend time with others. He volunteered in helping with many funeral dinners and was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, the 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus in Schoenchen, and the Bishop Cunningham 4th Degree Knights of Columbus.

Survivors include his wife, Tootsie of the home, five daughters; Connie Johnston and husband Gary of Wichita, Cynthia Zimmerman of Kansas City, Kansas, Rhonda Leiker and husband Larry of Hays, Kimberly Schoen and husband Steve of Hays, and Lisa Zimmerman of Kansas City, MO, four brothers; Wayne Zimmerman of Hays, Dennis Zimmerman and wife Becky of Hays, Sherman Zimmerman of Shawnee, KS, and Steve Zimmerman and wife Debbie of Topeka, two sisters; Elaine Schmidt and husband Jerry of Hays and Marjorie Augustine of Hays, nine grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter; Patricia Zimmerman, two sisters; Mary Ann Wasinger Herl, and Betty Leiker, a grandson; Curtis Lee Leiker, and sisters and brothers-in law; Arlene Zimmerman, Norbert Leiker, Mary Lou Zimmerman, Julius Wasinger, Virgil Herl, and Elmer Augustine.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine Street. Burial will be at a later date in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 8:00 on Friday and from 9:30 am until 10:45 on Saturday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. The 4th Degree Knights of Columbus will stand honor guard from 5:30 pm until 6:30 on Friday at the funeral home. A parish vigil service will be at 6:30 pm followed by a combined 3rd and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:00 pm, all on Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Hospice of Hays Medical Center, or to masses, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com or via email at [email protected]

Neil Biery of Hays passed away Wednesday, October 26, 2016 in Hays.

Funeral services will be 11 AM Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601. Inurnment will be at 2 PM at the Kansas State Veterans’ Cemetery in WaKeeney with military honors courtesy of the Hays VFW.

A complete obituary is pending.

Longtime Wallace County resident Ruth Lurene Hoss, 92, passed away on Monday, October 24, 2016 at the Colorado Plains Medical Center in Fort Morgan, Colorado.

Ruth was born in Weskan, Kansas on April 25, 1924 to Lawrence Edward and Barbara Olive (Godfrey) Samuelson. She was one of five children.

Ruth grew up in Weskan, and graduated from Weskan High School in 1942. She then went on and completed 2 years at a trade school.

On May 18, 1950, Ruth married Robert (Sandy) Asa Hoss. To this union, 10 children were born: Von, Jerry, Scott, Darrel, Helen Flora, Ed, Patsy, Cayle and Chuck.

Ruth spent her life as a homemaker helping her husband out around the family farm and raising her children. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, knitting and baking.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, Robert, in 2006, and a son, Cayle Hoss, in 2015.

She is survived by 9 children; Von (Rae) Hoss of Parks, NE, Jerry (Donna) Hoss of Cheyenne Wells, CO, Scott (Mildred) Hoss of Rocky Ford, CO, Darrel (Angie) Hoss of Cheraw, CO, Helen Hoss (Chuck Screws) of Gladwin, MI, Flora (Dave) Mason of Charleston, SC, Ed Hoss of Goodwell, OK, Patsy (Bob) Short of Sharon Springs, KS, and Chuck (Janet) Hoss of Goodwell, OK. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren; Clint Hoss, Amy Hoss, Tyler Hoss, Nicole Gilbert, Jeff Hoss, Kodey Hoss, Charlie Short-Bachman, Chricket Short Niehues and Halee Salmon; along with 3 step-grandchildren; Will Mason, Meg May and Questa Parish. Ruth has 4 great grandchildren; Delaney Gilbert, Emma Hoss, Abby Hoss and Racyn Salmon; as well as 7 step-great grandchildren; Garhatt Bruna, Colton Bruna, Jackson Parish, Kade Parish, Addison Gilbert, Willy Gilbert, and Eli Mason.

Ruth’s Memorial Service will be at the Wallace Cemetery on Saturday, 29 October 2016, at 10:00 am.

Memorials may be designated to the Sharon Springs Master Gardeners and Cheyenne Manor and may be sent to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St., Goodland, KS 67735-1555.

Online condolences may be left at www.koonsfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements were entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Sharon Springs.

James Robert Lawrence, son of Earl and Dorothy (Kirk) Lawrence, was born August 9, 1938, in Norton, Kansas, and passed away at his home in Norton, on October 24, 2016, at the age of 78.

Jim attended the Clayton Grade School and graduated from the Clayton High School. He also attended one semester of college at Washburn in Topeka, Kansas. Jim enlisted in the National Guard on October 18, 1956, and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve on February 6, 1958. He served in the U.S. Army and was Honorably Discharged on July 10, 1961. He moved to Wheatridge, Colorado, and on December 1, 1961, married Betty Rutherford. In 1963, they returned to Clayton, where he farmed his grandfather’s land. They later moved into Norton where he worked for Cooper’s Pest Control and later started his own business, Western Pest Control.

Jim was a member of the Clayton United Methodist Church, the Eagles and the Harmonson-Redd American Legion Post #63 in Norton. Jim especially loved his dogs and enjoyed fishing, hunting, working outdoors, and spending time with friends.

Survivors include: three stepchildren, Frank (Patti) Rutherford, Cedaredge, Colorado; Barbara (Don) Brooks, Clayton; and Leona (Ron) Bird, Plainville, Kansas; one brother, Nelson Norbury, Rolla, Missouri; one sister, Meri Tiekamp, Almena, Kansas; seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson; other relatives and friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and one brother, Larry, in infancy.

Jim will be remembered for his kindness and generosity. He was always willing to help anyone as best he could and opened his heart and home to many.

FUNERAL SERVICE – Saturday, October 29, 2016—10:30 A.M.

PLACE – Enfield Funeral Home – 215 W. Main – Norton, KS

INURNMENT – There will be a private family inurnment.

MEMORIALS – Pheasants Forever and the Second Chance Homeless Pet Society

WaKeeney resident Wanda (Staab) Pfannenstiel passed away Monday, October 24, 2016, at her home.

She was born June 21, 1951 to Joseph A. Staab and Louise (Meier) Staab in Hays, KS.  

She grew up and attended schools in Hays and Catharine, KS and graduated from Marian High School in Hays in 1969.  She worked at Travenol. She was united in marriage to Tom Pfannenstiel, on August 10, 1973 in Catharine.  Over the years, she worked as asst. Clerk of the District Court of Trego County, as secretary at Verbeck’s Lumber Company, and as library aide at WaKeeney Grade School.

She served on the WaKeeney Public Library board and the Christ the King Catholic Church Altar Society in WaKeeney, KS.  She played bridge and pinochle in several groups.  Wanda loved to read, but her real passion was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and “granddog” Bailey.

Wanda was preceded in death by her father.

Survivors include her mother Louise of Hays; husband Tom of WaKeeney; 2 daughters Joy (Pfannenstiel) Brandau and husband Jason of Shawnee, KS and Laura (Pfannenstiel) Ross and husband Kevin of Edwardsville, KS; 2 grandchildren Abigail and Brayden Ross, and “granddog” Bailey; 2 brothers Garry and wife JoAnn of Hays, and Dennis and wife Diane of Basehor, KS; 6 sisters Barbara McCormick, Sharon Howard, Diana Staab and Pam Munsch and husband Cory, all of Hays, KS, Donna Perez and husband Gabe of Lenexa, KS, and Joann Lang and husband Brian of Shawnee, KS; and many beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

A mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM, Friday October 28, 2016 at Christ the King Catholic Church, WaKeeney.  Burial will be at the church cemetery.  

Visitation will be Thursday, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney.  A parish vigil service will be at 7:00 PM at Christ the King Catholic Church.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS memorial contributions are suggested to Christ the King Catholic Church Building Fund or WaKeeney Public Library.  Checks made to either organization may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Condolences may be left for the family via online guest book at www.schmittfuneral.com.

Neva Evelyn Marshall passed away Sunday, October 23, 2016 at Solomon Valley Manor in Stockton, Kansas at the age of 104. She was born on September 9, 1912 on the family farm south of Webster, Kansas to the late Lee and Lizzie (Veverka) Bray. She attended schools in Webster and Stockton graduating from Stockton High School with the Class of 1931. She later attended Fort Hays State College where she received her teaching degree in elementary education.

After graduation from high school, Neva was united in marriage to Warren Dunning. They had two sons, Warren Lee and Roger. In 1940 she married Ferrel Marshall. Together they had one daughter, Gloria Jean.
Neva was a dedicated teacher. She taught grades 1-8 in three Rooks County schools as well as Kindergarten in Stockton. She and husband Ferrel owned and operated a family dairy. She worked in the Stockton grocery and appliance stores and also as a bookkeeper for Ostmeyer Implement Company. She continued working as a Senior Companion , in order to help others, until the age of 95.

Neva is survived by her son Roger Dunning and wife Lorrie of Atchison; grandchildren Bruce Dunning, David Dunning, Dale Dunning, Klark Dunning, Tom Dunning, Angie (Havlas) Kollman, and Scott Havlas; great-grandchildren Stephanie Dunning, Alex Dunning, Nathan Kollman, Katie Kollman, Kyle Kollman, and Nick Kollman; and numerous dear and loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents Lee and Lizzie Bray, husbands Warren Dunning and Ferrel Marshall, son Warren Dunning, and daughter Gloria Jean.

Neva was loved by family, friends, and the wonderful caregivers at Solomon Valley Manor. Her loving and caring spirit will live on in the hearts and minds of all who knew her.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at Stockton City Cemetery in Stockton, KS. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00am on Thursday at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Stockton, prior to the service.

Bobby “Bob” Gene Cook, 88, of Russell, Kansas, died at his home on Sunday, October 23, 2016, in Russell, Kansas.

Bobby was born on December 05, 1927, in Monett, Missouri, the son of Samuel Roe and Stella Belle (Weaver) Cook. He attended grade school in Monett, Missouri and graduated high school in Wichita, Kansas. After high school, Bob joined the United States Navy during World War II. Bob moved to Russell, Kansas, in 1946. He met, fell in love and was united in marriage on November 21, 1951, in Russell, Kansas at the old United Methodist Church. From this union Bob and Norma Jean were blessed with a son Tom. Bob was self employed, as a bulk agent for Fina Oil. He was a longtime member of Otterbein United Methodist Church in Russell. He was also a member of the Shrine, Masonic Lodge, Elk and Russell V.F.W. Post #6240. He enjoyed fishing and hunting and spending time with his family and close friends.

Surviving family include his son Tom of the home, sister in-law Kay Lowenstein of Manhattan, Kansas; and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Norma Jean on September 17, 2016, 4 brothers and 2 sisters.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, October 28, 2016, at the Otterbein United Methodist Church in Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Michael Eurit officiating. Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery in Russell, Kansas, with military honors being performed by the Russell V.F.W. Post #6240. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Thursday, October 27, 2016, at the mortuary with family to greet guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Thursday evening.

Memorials may be given to the Rough Riders or Otterbein United Methodist Church and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Gladys Marie Brungardt, age 81, of Hays, died Sunday, October 23, 2016, at Hays Medical Center Hays, Kansas. She was born August 20, 1935, in Hays, Kansas to Gerald and Agnes (Wolf) Leiker. She married Vitus Brungardt on August 25, 1977, at Hutchinson, Kansas. He died April 28, 2014.

She was a waitress for over 25 years working at The Lamar Hotel, Woolworths, The Coney Island Drive-In, The Mall Restaurant and was a prep cook at Arby’s for 10 years. She grew up in Hays, attended Hays High School and was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. She enjoyed playing cards, puzzles, watching birds, going to the casinos and spending time with her family.

Survivors include three sons, LuVern Lang Jr. and wife, Pam, Tribune, KS; Norman Lang and wife, Rose Marie, LaCrosse, KS; Mark Lang and wife Lori, Hays, KS; one daughter, Mary Engel and companion, Brian Jacques, Hays, KS; one step-son, Keith Brungardt and wife, Beverly, Vincent, KS; one step-daughter, Cindy Huser and husband, Bryan, Hays, KS; one daughter-in-law, Terri Brungardt, Hutchinson, KS; one brother, Norman Leiker and wife, Rita, Hays, KS; one sister, Barbara Clarke, Hays, KS; 10 grandchildren: Jenny Spear (Mike), Joshua Kehn (Lisa), Trevor Engel (Susie Obholz), Keaton Lang (Lexi),Chris Lang, Mindy Lang, Jessica Normandin (Kyle), Faith Desbien, Quincy Robben, Kelsey Morrow (Lance); 11 great grandchildren; 8 step-grandchildren and 14 step-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Patrick Lang; one son-in-law, Clifford V. “Cliff” Engel; her first husband, LuVern Lang; one step-son, Larry Brungardt.

Services are at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, October 27, 2016, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 18 and Vine, Hays, Kansas. Burial in St. Joseph Cemetery Hays, Kansas.

The family will receive friends from 9:30 to 11:00 A.M. Thursday, at the church. Memorial to the Brungardt Family in care of Mary Engel to be designated at a later time. Condolences can be left at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or via e-mail at [email protected].