Hays, Kansas – Virginia “Virgie” (Koerner) Windholz, age 89, died Friday, October 7, 2016, at Via Christi Village Assisted Living Center, Hays, Kansas.

She was born November 25, 1926, in Hays, Kansas and was raised by her grandparents Fred and Katherine (Schmidt) Koerner. She married Alvin J. Windholz on April 17, 1943, in Victoria, Kansas. He died May 1, 1993.

She was a homemaker and a home and commercial painter with her husband for over 40 years. She was a member of The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Daughters of Isabella, Christian Mothers all of Victoria, Kansas. She was member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary of Hays, Kansas.

She enjoyed her yard work, crocheting and spending time with her family.

Survivors include one son, Allen Windholz and wife, Rae Ann, Lake Havasu, AZ; two daughters, Susie Dinkel and husband, Danny, Walker, KS; Kelly Kaba and husband, John, Hays, KS; ten grandchildren: Tracy (Maria) Dinkel, Danny (Bobbie) Dinkel Jr., Allen Windholz Jr., Tim Windholz, Rae Ann (Scott) Green, Melissa Sauer, Ron (Tammi) Sauer, Kurtis Scheck, Jessica (Matthew) Korte, Courtney Kaba and 15 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; one daughter, Donna Windholz; one grandson, Scott Lee Dinkel.
Services are at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, October 15, 2016, at The Basilica of St Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas. Burial in St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas.

A vigil service followed by a St. Fidelis Daughters of Isabella / Christian Mothers rosary will be at 7:00 P.M. Friday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 9:00 P.M. Friday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Saturday, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis.

Memorial to The Basilica of St. Fidelis. Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or via e-mail to [email protected]

Erwin A. “Shorty” Kroeger, age 91, of Ellis passed away Saturday, October 8, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Society, Ellis. He was born February 6, 1925 in Trego County, Kansas to Ernest and Wilhelmina “Minnie” (Irion) Kroeger. He graduated in 1944 from Ellis High School. On September 22, 1949 he married Shirley Ann Massier at Christ Lutheran Church in Ellis.

He was a Farmer and Stockman and a member of St. John Lutheran Church where he was active in the choir, church council and ELCM. He was Influential along with Shirley in getting the Trego County Water District #2 implemented.

He is survived by two sons, Michael Kroeger of Russell and Timothy Kroeger of Ellis; two daughters, Julie (Dan) Schoenberger of Wichita and Holly (Brett) Gilbert of McCracken; 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren also survive him.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Shirley on April 7, 2011; a son, Douglas Kroeger in 1973 and a brother Ray Kroeger.

Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Wednesday at St. John Lutheran Church located 7 miles north of Ellis. Burial will be in the St. John Cemetery with military honors courtesy of the Ellis VFW.

Visitation will be Tuesday 4:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. all at Keithley Funeral Chapel 400 E. 17th Ellis, KS. 67637.

Contributions are suggested to St. John Lutheran Church or the Ellis VFW.

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

Bernece Rohleder, 101, Salina, formerly of Victoria, Kansas, died Saturday, October 8, 2016 at the Brookdale Senior Assisted Living facility in Salina.

She was born June 29, 1915 in Vincent, Kansas the daughter of Anton and Katherine (Schrant) Schulte. She was a 1933 graduate of Victoria High School and attended Business School at Fort Hays State University. On May 22, 1945 she married John C. Rohleder in Vincent. He preceded her in death in 1989. Together they owned and operated a grocery store and liquor store in Victoria and Bernece was also a nurse for Dr. Anderson in Victoria for many years.

Survivors include a daughter; Lucy Kollhoff and husband Mike of Salina, Kansas, a sister-in-law; Laverna Schulte of Hill City, Kansas, seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John C. Rohleder, a son; Leo Paul Rohleder in 2007, a grandson John Rohleder in 2004, four brothers; Virgil, Herbert, Albert, and Paul Schulte, and three sisters; Josephine Rusch, Florence Heilig, and Clara Staab.

Private family burial will take place in Mt. Allen Cemetery, Hays. Visitation will be from 5:30 until 8:00 pm on Tuesday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. A parish vigil service will be at 6:30 pm on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Brookdale/Fairdale Senior Living Center or to the Women Helping Women Fund, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Larry G. Vulgamore, age 68, passed away on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at his farm in Scott County, Kansas. He was born on July 4, 1948 in Garden City, Kansas, the son of Earl Nelson and Clara Belle Nonnamaker Vulgamore. A lifetime resident of Scott County, Kansas, he was a farmer and stockman.

He was a member and deacon of the Prairie View Church Of The Brethren of Friend, Kansas.

Larry was a US Army Veteran serving from 1970-1976, Past Member of the Scott Coop Board and USD 466 Board Of Education.

On August 24, 1969 he married Judith Ann Crist in Friend, Kansas. She Survives.

Survivors include his Wife – Judi Vulgamore of Scott City, Kansas, Two Sons – Brian & Paula Vulgamore of Scott City, Kansas, Myles & Elizabeth Vulgamore of Scott City, Kansas, One Daughter – Heidi & Corbin Stevens of Scott City, Kansas, Two Sisters – Diana Gonzales of Lovington, New Mexico, Linda & Rick Illgner of San Antonio, Texas, Father In Law – Raymond Crist of Holcomb, Kansas, Nine Grandchildren – Makaela, Sawyer, Brinlie, and Ella Stevens, Parker, Paige and Camden Vulgamore, Breven and Gavin Vulgamore and Numerous Nieces & Nephews.

He was preceded in death by his Parents, Two Brothers – Robert Vulgamore & Charles Jack Vulgamore and One Sister – Connie Vulgamore.

Funeral Services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, October 9, 2016 at the Prairie View Church Of The Brethren in Friend, Kansas with Pastor Jon Tuttle presiding.

Memorials In Lieu of Flowers may be given to the Prairie View Church Of The Brethren or Scott Community Foundation % Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.

Interment will be in the Prairie View Church Cemetery

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Saturday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.

Norman H. Mills passed away on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at the Sheridan County Health Complex Long Term Care in Hoxie, Kansas at the age of 86. He was born on March 16, 1930 in the Bowcreek Township of rural Sheridan County to the late Paul N. and Ruth (Mowry) Mills. He grew up attending Bowcreek Elementary School before graduating from Sheridan Community High School with the class of 1947.

Upon graduation, Norman took over the family farm that his grandparents established, and is now recognized as a “Century Farm.” Over his lifetime he developed an excellent cattle program, served as a board member for Ness City Federal Land Bank and the Sheridan County Soil Conservation District, received an award for the highest yielding corn crop in Kansas, and together with Albert Mills created and developed the Tri-Flex flexible sweep tool which is still used in farming operations today. He continued farming and ranching until his retirement and move to Hoxie.

Norman enjoyed fishing. He was a lifelong faithful member of the Church of Christ having been baptized into the family of God in 1943. He was a wonderful Bible and Sunday School teacher with many of his students commenting how much they learned from him. He loved his family, and although he had no children of his own, his nieces and nephews were always very special to him.

Norman is survived by his brother Lloyd Mills and wife Veryl of Enid, OK; sister Lorraine Coulter of Hoxie; sister-in-law Nadine Mills of Hoxie; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Paul and Ruth Mills, brother Albert Mills, niece Vicki Mills, and brother-in-law Edwin Coulter.

A funeral service was held at 2:00 pm on Monday, October 3, 2016 at the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home in Hoxie. Burial will follow at Lucerne Cemetery. Visitation was from 1:00-8:00pm on Sunday, October 2, 2016 at the funeral home. Family received friends from 5:30-7:00 pm on Sunday and from 9:30am until service time on Monday.

Memorials are suggested to the Hoxie Church of Christ, Sheridan County Health Complex Long Term Care Unit, or the Phillipsburg Hospice and may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, KS 67740. Online condolences may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com.

Norman spent his life being a good steward of the land, raising his cattle and loving God, family, friends, and neighbors. He was loved and will be missed, but we rejoice as he has reached that heavenly home on high, where he hears the Great Rancher say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” At last he has received eternal rest with God in happiness, peace, and love.

DODGE CITY – Al Orrison, 96, died Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Presbyterian Manor of the Plains, Dodge City.

He was born October 6, 1919 at Coffeyville, Kansas, the son Alfred O. and Adeline (Sipe) Orrison. He served in the United States Army during WWII with the 195th Field Artillery. He landed on Omaha Beach on D+10 and participated in 5 major campaigns. He was awarded the Victory Medal and Bronze Star.

He was a manager for Ideal Foods in Liberal and in 1948 moved to Dodge City to manage that store. He later owned and operated the Drive In Market for 15 years and the owner and operator of the Holiday Motel for 8 years, retiring in 1973.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Life Member of VFW Post 1714, American Legion and Masonic Lodge all in Dodge City as well as former Treasurer of both the Ford County Sportsman Club and of the Kansas Wildlife Federation. He loved hunting, fishing and traveling.

On December 1, 1946 he married Virginia Lawson at Coffeyville.

Survivors include: his wife, Dodge City; 2 sons, Craig and wife Linda, Ocean Springs, Mississippi and Ted and wife Connie, Dodge City; 3 daughters, Pam Moore and husband Dennis, Hugoton, Jan Bieker and husband Mark, Hays and Jill O’Brien and husband Greg, Collierville, Tennessee; 12 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Robert, a grandson, Sean Moore and a grandson-in-law, Mike Honeman.

Funeral Service will be 10:00 am Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City, with Rev. Jerre Nolte officiating. Burial will follow at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery at Ft. Dodge with full military rites by Howard Gotschall VFW Post 1714 and Military Honors for the State of Kansas. Visitation will be from noon to 8:00 pm Tuesday at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.

The family suggests memorials to VFW Post 1714 or the Ford County Humane Society both in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.

Ella Mathilda (Deines) Fabrizius was born January 15, 1918 to David and Elisabeth (Dietz) Deines on the family homestead in rural Barton County near Galatia, Kansas. She died October 1, 2016 at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital Long Term Care at the age of 98.

Ella was baptized March 17, 1918 and was confirmed in 1932 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Galatia. She attended Barton County Public School (Haig) in Galatia receiving her 8th Grade diploma May 28, 1931. In 1938, she moved with her parents to rural Trego County where she joined Zion Lutheran Church at Trego Center and worked for neighbors, caring for children, cooking, washing, cleaning, and milking. She married Rubin Fabrizius, at Zion, October 12, 1941, and they began their family and farming/ranching operation. Rubin was inducted in to the United States Army on October 28, 1942 and was honorably discharged October 7, 1945. During these years Ella alternated living with her parents and Rubin’s parents 6 months at a time with their first child Ruben Gene (born August 20, 1942) until he returned.

Ella spent the next 57 years as a homemaker, farming and ranching with Rubin, south of WaKeeney, until their retirement in 2002 moving to WaKeeney. Those years were filled with work, family and worship. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Ladies Aid, now WELCA, Society of Germans from Russia, and a lifetime member of Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

Ella was an accomplished seamstress and cook. Her butterscotch pie was equal to her sister-in-law and closest friend Helen who she loved to visit with over the telephone, always speaking in German. She had a sweet way of endearing herself to others and was known and loved as “Aunt Ella” to a great many nieces and nephews and loved children, especially babies. Ella was a self-taught beautician who cut, permed, “finger-waved”, curled and braided the hair of all her family members. She sewed countless beautiful clothes for herself and her family including elegant prom dresses for her daughters, and loved looking at pattern books and envisioning how they would be fashioned with fabric choices. She also enjoyed quilt making and embroidery, but her greatest treasure was her family.

Ella was a devoted wife and mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, her legacy of kindness, hard work, honesty, loyalty, faith, generosity and love of family is unsurpassed, and she leaves beautiful memories of a long and wonderful life.

Ella was preceded in death by her husband, Rubin of 72 years, March 4, 2014; her parents; infant daughter, Mary Jane; brothers, Louis, Herbert and Emil Deines; infant sister, and sisters, Marie Wilhelm, Tabea and Rachel Fabrizius; granddaughter, Julie Fabrizius-Clerihue, grandson, Matthew Fabrizius; daughter-in-law; Connie Fabrizius; and great-great-grandson, Jaxon Daniels.

Ella survived by five sons, Ruben (Gene) and wife Judy, John, Paul, Curt, Carl and wife Sarah, all of Trego County; two daughters, Ruth Tinkler & husband, Delton, and Sara Sherwood and friend Don Flax, all of Trego County; a brother, Paul Deines of WaKeeney; 18 Grandchildren, Rebecca Karlin and husband Mark of Aurora, Co, Andrea Fabrizius and Andrew Fabrizius of Peoria, AZ, Heather Tuttle of WaKeeney, Heidi Tuttle & fiancé Andrew of Salina, Holly Decker & husband Travis of Russell, Jeremiah Tuttle of Fort Collins, CO, Tyler Fabrizius & friend Kyra Turley of WaKeeney, Olivia (Fabrizius) Peterson and husband Kyle of Lindsborg, Amelia Fabrizius of Hesston, Isaiah Fabrizius of Lindsborg, Rubin and Eli Sherwood of WaKeeney, Ella Sherwood of Hays, Emily Keen & husband Chris of Colby, Tracy Braun & husband Travis of Victoria, Joshua Sherwood & wife Amber of Gardner, and Summer Sherwood of Wichita; 21 great-grandchildren, Candace Karlin of Chicago, Madison Karlin of South Bend, IN, Amani Fabrizius of Peoria, Kristian Tuttle of San Diego, Madeleine and Camrie Tuttle of WaKeeney, Mollie Buchholz of Ellis, Ashton, Liberty & Bo Decker of Russell, Dru, Ellie & Jace Keen, Colby, Colton Braun of Victoria, Hugh Turley and Adell Fabrizus of Wakeeney, Tia, Rylee & Brayden Sherwood of Gardner, Acelyn & Promise Robert of Wichita; three great-great-grandsons, Maxuim, Justin and Riley Daniels; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, October 6, 2016 at Zion Lutheran Church, Trego Center – South of WaKeeney, KS.

Visitation will be Wednesday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 at the church.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Zion Lutheran Church. Contributions made to the church can be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Words of comfort may be left online at www.schmittfuneral.com by signing the guest book.