Hays, Kansas – Virgil R. Jacobs, age 92, died Saturday, September 3, 2016, at Via Christi Village
Care Center Hays, Kansas.

He was born April 21, 1924, on the farm Northeast of Gorham, Kansas, to Adam W. and Mary (Schmidtberger) Jacobs.  He married Amelia T. “Millie” (Brungardt) on August 18, 1947, at Victoria, Kansas.

He worked 37 years for the Kansas Department of Transportation and retired in 1985 from the Russell Office as a Supervisor.  Virgil and his wife moved to Hays in 1988 from Russell, Kansas.

He was a US Army veteran and served during WWII.  He attended the Highland School northeast of Gorham, Kansas.  He was a member of St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, St. Nicholas of Myra 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus, St. Fidelis 4th Degree Assembly Knights of Columbus , Hays V.F.W. Post # 9076 and Hays American Legion Post #173.
Survivors include his wife, Millie Jacobs, Via Christi Village Hays, KS;  two sons, Ronald Jacobs and wife, Donna, McCook, NE; Tom Jacobs, Russell, KS; Karen K. Ryan and husband, Roger, Wichita, KS, one sister, Glennis Tibbits, Wichita, KS; six grandchildren: Shannon Monnahan (Bret), Brandon Jacobs (Jenifer) Alison Ehrlich (Eric), Chad Klitzing (Jess); Carrie Klitzing, Candi Verbeck (Matt); 11 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Victor Jacobs and wife, Annie; Walter Jacobs; Al Jacobs and wife Coletta; one brother-in-law, Clarence Tibbets; and one sister, Evelyn Ehrlich and husband, Paul.
Services are 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, September 7, 2016, at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church 2901st 13th Hays, Kansas. Burial in St. Fidelis Cemetery Victoria, Kansas with military honors by the Hays V.F.W. and Hays America Legion.

A vigil service is at 7:00 P.M. Tuesday followed by a 3rd and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:30 P.M. both at Clines-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd, Hays, Kansas 67601.

The 4th Degree Knights of Columbus will stand honor guard from 6:30 to 7:30 P.M. Tuesday at the mortuary.
Visitation is from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. Tuesday, and from 9:00 to 9:45 A.M. Wednesday, all at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.

Memorial to St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church.

Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or via e-mail to [email protected].

Elmer F. VonFeldt, 90, Hays, died Sunday, September 4, 2016 at the Hays Good Samaritan Society.

He was born October 9, 1925, the son of Frank A. and Philomena (Bieker) VonFeldt in Walker, Kansas on the VonFeldt family farm that would eventually become Walker Army Air Base. The family moved to the Ellis area in 1927 and then in 1938 to a farm on the east side of Hays on land that would later become Saint Anthony’s Hospital, now Hays Medical Center. On June 1, 1948 he was united in marriage to Bertha “Bert” Hertel at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays. Elmer and Bert lived in Denver, Colorado for many years before returning to the family farm east of Hays in 1966.

Elmer played in polka bands almost all his life. As a self-taught accordion player, he played with his brother Frank in the Harmony Polka Dots, with his son Randy in the Elmer VonFeldt Polka Band, and later The Dutchmasters Polka Band. In later years he enjoyed playing his keyboard for appreciative audiences at the Senior Center and at the Good Samaritan Society. He was a member of St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, the Schoenchen Council Third Degree Knights of Columbus, and the Bishop Cunningham Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by his four children and their spouses; Pam Combs and husband Mike of Hays, Randy VonFeldt and wife Mary Jo of Russell, LuAnn Augustine and husband Daryl and Michelle Wiesner and husband Henry, all of Hays, five sisters-in-law; Ida Gerstner of Wichita, Edna VonFeldt of Denver, Rita VonFeldt of McPherson, Stella VonFeldt of Denver, and Florence Hertel of Hays, seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephew, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Bertha, eight brothers; Alvin, Robert, Linus, Andrew, Francis, Frank F., Marvin, and Francis, and two sisters; Viola Wasinger and Doris Kuhn, and a grandson Kevin VonFeldt.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at the St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, 2901 E. 13th. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 8:00 pm on Wednesday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Thursday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus will stand honor guard from 5:30 until 6:30 with a parish vigil at 6:30 and a combined Third and Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:00, all on Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Hays Medical Center or to the Hays Good Samaritan Society, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Mary Catherine “Cathy” Barnes, 78, Hays, died Monday, September 05, 2016 at the Hays Medical Center.

She was born March 8, 1938 on the family farm Northwest of Schoenchen, Kansas the daughter of Wendelin and Brigitta (Dinges) Werth. On August 1, 1955 she married Tom R. Barnes in Schoenchen. He preceded her in death on April 4, 2006. She was a rancher, farmer, independent oil and gas producer, and loved working cattle, fixing fence, or doing whatever needed done on the farm. She was a gifted accordion player, yodeler, and vocalist and loved music and tending to her garden. She was an avid diary keeper and was a former Ellis County Mother of the Year. She was a member of Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Antonino, and the parish Christian Mothers.

Survivors include five sons; John T. Barnes and wife Mary L. of Hays, Stephen R. Barnes and wife Kim S. of Hays, Howard W. Barnes and wife Lucy of Yocemento, Tom R. Barnes II and wife Lori of Topeka, and Wilfred T. “Willie” Barnes of Hays, three daughters; Tamera A. Lang and husband Wayne of Hays, Glenda A. Grosnick of Ocala, FL, and Ronda A. Hall and husband Ron of Enid, OK, and adopted son Tyron J. Barnes of Sarasota, FL, four brothers; Linus Werth of Victoria, Donald Werth and wife Charlotte of Hays, LeRoy Werth and wife Christa of Schoenchen, and Paul Werth and wife Donna of Great Bend, three sisters; Laura Klaus of Hays, Clarice Stoecklein of Ness City, and Dorothy Moeder and husband John of Hays, sixteen grandchildren; Dick Barnes and wife Amy, Mark, Clint, Danielle, Hayley, Jesse, John, Brandi, Bailey, Kirsten, Kendra, Nathan, Dustin, Joshua, and Jared Barnes and Joy Long and husband Jacob, four great grandchildren; Jaycey, Bentley, Macy, and Makenzie, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Tom, and siblings; Ralph Werth, Joyce Klaus, and Vera Schuckman.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Antonino. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 pm on Tuesday and from 8:30 until 9:30 am on Wednesday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine St. A Christian Mothers rosary will be at 6:00 pm, another rosary will be at 6:30 pm followed by a parish vigil service at 7:00 pm, all on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Sisters of St. Joseph, Concordia, KS in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left at www.haysmemorial.com.

Bruce Edward Chesney, 68, of Natoma, Kansas, passed away Thursday, August 18, 2016 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.

Bruce was born February 8, 1948 in Hays, Kansas, one of five sons born to Homer Bruce and Eileen (Meyers) Chesney. He grew up and attended school in Natoma, Kansas. He graduated from Natoma High School with the Class of ’67. After school he joined the U.S. Army. He served from 1968 to 1971 and did 1 ½ tours in Vietnam. After his service he returned to Natoma.

Bruce worked on the harvest crews from the Natoma area, he delivered the Hays and Salina’s news papers for many years and worked at the Mack Welling Lumber Yard. He loved to tinker on small engines, building birdhouses, and spending time with family and friends. He was a member of the Natoma United Methodist Church, a life member of the Russell V.F.W. Post, and a member of the Natoma American Legion Post.

Surviving family include his mother, Eileen Chesney of Natoma, Kansas; four brothers, Ronald Chesney, Earl Chesney and Lawrence Chesney all of Natoma, Kansas and Everett Chesney (Fay) of Stockton, Kansas; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, September 3, 2016, at the Natoma United Methodist Church. A private family burial of ashes will take place at a later date. Cremation has preceded the services and no visitation will be held. A Memorial has been established at the Bruce Chesney Memorial. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Donald E. Mai Sr., age 74 of WaKeeney, passed away Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at Hays Medical Center, Hays. He was born March 13, 1942, in WaKeeney, to Fred J. and Christina (Mai) Mai.

Donald was a graduate of Trego Community High School. On March 21, 1965, he was united in marriage to Victoria Deines, WaKeeney. They enjoyed 36 years of marriage together, until her death on March 21, 2001. Three children were born to this union. Donald then married Shirley Neff on April 9, 2009.

Throughout his life, Donald was in the grain elevator business, having worked for many elevators, including, Haddem Grain Company in WaKeeney, Morrison Grain Company in Salina, Hedville Elevator in Hedville, Lewis Dryfus Corporation in Mississippi, Kipp Elevator in Kipp, Enterprise and Detroit Elevator in Enterprise, and Stamford Grain and Feed Elevator in Stanford, Nebraska. Donald was active in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Stamford, volunteered and served as Fire Chief for the Stamford Fire Department, and served on the Harlan County Hospital Board in Alma, Nebraska. He loved to hunt, garden, help on the farm, and do woodworking. Most importantly, he cherished time spent with his grandchildren. Donald will be dearly missed by many friends and family, whose lives were touched by his kindness.

Survivors include his wife, of WaKeeney; two children, Angela (Loren) Wagner, of Culbertson, Nebraska, and Don, Jr. of Holdrege, Nebraska; two step-children, Kenny (Renee) Neff of WaKeeney, and Shelley (Ted) Berning, of Colwich, Kansas; eight grandchildren, Maranda, Morgan, Mason, Faith, Jakob, Tarin (Nic), Tori, and Dalton; two brothers, Kenneth of Shawnee, Kansas, and Richard of Fort Morgan, Colorado; six sisters, Alvina Zeh, of Hemet, California, Marie Kroeger of Florence, Oregon, Darlene Luttig, of Temple City, California, Betty Stone, of Spring Valley, California, Evelyn Clark, of Morland, Kansas, and Sharon Bell, of Centennial, Colorado. He is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Victoria; daughter, Donna Jean; brothers, Emanuel and Melvin; and sisters, Hellen Irene and Billie Burgardt.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, September 5, 2016 at Zion Lutheran Church, south of WaKeeney in Trego Center. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Sunday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 at the funeral home in WaKeeney.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital Cardiac Rehab (TCLMH Cardiac Rehab). Contributions made to the organization may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Condolences may be sent to the family via online guest book at www.schmittfuneral.com.

John Lester Dietterich, age 83, passed away on September 1, 2016, at the Rhode Island Suites, Ransom. He was born on June 7, 1933 in Telford, Pennsylvania the son of Lester and Ethel Fretz Dietterich.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia; his daughter, Valerie; sister, Joan Ryder; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Robert.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, September 7, 2016, 2:00 p.m. at the First Mennonite Church, Ransom.

Memorial contributions may be given to the First Mennonite Church or the Hospice of the Prairie.