Geraldine Wittman, age 59, of Hays passed away Thursday, January 1, 2015, at Hays Medical Center. She was born June 21, 1955 in Hays to Fidelis and Ileen (Wacker) Ruder. She attended Hays High.

Geraldine was a CNA. She had attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. She enjoyed playing cards, watching TV and having conversations with family and friends.

She is survived by her caregiver and boyfriend, Duane Swan of Hays; a brother, John Ruder and wife Michelle of Mulvane, KS; two sisters, Marcia Seirer and Melissa Irwin and husband Craig all of Hays. She is also survived by 9 nephews, 2 nieces, 3 great nephews and 4 great nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorial services will be 11 AM Tuesday, January 6, 2015, at Brock’s Keithley Funeral Chapel 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601. Private Inurnment will be at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Masses or Cancer Council of Ellis County.

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

Joyce Funk, age 56, of Hays, passed away January 1, 2015 in Hays. She was born January 21, 1958 in Junction City, Kansas. Her parents are Donald and Thelma (Griffin) Hiebsch. She graduated from Hays High in 1976.

She was a homemaker. Her family and friends were important to her. She enjoyed having lively debates and was a forgiving person.

She is survived by her mother, Thelma Hiebsch of Colby; a son, Brandon Funk and wife Cynthia of Plainville; a daughter, Candice Loffredi and life partner Sandy Smith of Victoria; three brothers, Robert Foster, Harry Walker Mettler and Gerald Foster all of Topeka; three sisters, June Grumbein of Hays, Lana Terry of Hoyt, KS and Deanna Stringfield of Topeka and five grandchildren, Taylor and Tyra Loffredi of Victoria, Matthew Younker of Munjor, Trinity and Tanaya Funk of Plainville.

She was preceded in death by her father, Donald Hiebsch, her biological mother, Dorothy Mettler-Mitchell; a sister, Jeweleen Naymes; Son-in-law, Justin Loffredi; Nephew-in-law, Rolando Banegas and a brother-in-law, Jerald Grumbein.

Funeral services will be 2PM Monday, January 5, 2015 at Brock’s Keithley Funeral Chapel 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601. Cremation will follow services with private inurnment at a later date.

Visitation will be Sunday 5 PM – 8 PM and Monday 1 PM until service time all at the funeral chapel.

Memorials are suggested to be used according to the wishes of the family.

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

Elaine K. Driscoll, 67, formerly of Hays, died Thursday, January 1, 2015, at the Locust Grove Village in LaCrosse.

She was born September 17, 1947, in Dodge City, Kansas the daughter of Russell W. and Wilma (Lilly) Rynerson.

Elaine grew up in Jetmore, Kansas, was a 1965 graduate of Jetmore High School, and a 1970 graduate of Fort Hays State University. She married Ken Driscoll on June 19th, 1970, and they later divorced. She loved her alma mater and served over 30 years as an administrative assistant in various departments at Fort Hays State University.

Survivors include one brother, Don Rynerson and wife Sigrid of Hays, Kansas, nephews Scott Rynerson and wife Elizabeth of Merriam, Kansas, Casey Rynerson and wife Audrey of Spearville, Kansas, along with great nieces, Meka, Ava, and Brynley, great nephews, Parker and Carter, and one aunt Betty Fakes of Jetmore, KS.  She is also survived by a host of cousins, many friends, and her Locust Grove Village family.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Monday, January 5, 2015 at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine.  Burial will be at 3:00 pm in the Fairmount Cemetery in Jetmore.  Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Sunday and from 9:00 am until service time Monday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested in Elaine’s memory to FHSU College of Education and Technology or to the Locust Grove Village, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Mary Maxine Thorton Pfannenstiel, 79, died on Thursday, January 1, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Center of Hays, Kansas, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

She was born March 10, 1935, in Bonaparte, Iowa and later moved to Hays, Kansas, where she attended Hays High School. On July 18, 1953 she married Marvin M. Pfannenstiel, the love of her life.

A lifelong homemaker, Maxine also loved children. She ran a daycare center for 35 years where she loved and cared for hundreds of children. After her retirement in 2000 she volunteered at Holy Family Elementary School. She was also a member and volunteer of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.

“Max” was known for her kind heart, for her sugar cookies, for always going just a little bit overboard with Christmas presents and for being her family’s rock.

Survivors include Marvin Pfannenstiel, her husband of 61 years; two daughters, Sheri and Chuck Walters of Arvada, Colorado and Carla and Charles Giebler of Hays; two sons, Mike Pfannenstiel of Mountain Home, Arkansas and Pat and Peggy Pfannenstiel of Lawrence, Kansas; seven grandchildren, Michael Walters, Michelle Hazlewood, Jessica Schwarte, Christa Weigel, Curtis Giebler, Brianne Pfannenstiel and Jake Pfannenstiel; six great grandchildren; and two stepsisters, Pat Johnson and Donna Weaverling and her husband Aven.

She is preceded in death by her parents Tom and Edith Pugh, and Bert and Vi Corsbie.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Monday, January 5, 2014 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine Street. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Sunday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine, and from 9:00 am until service time on Monday at the church. A rosary will be recited at 6:30 pm followed by a parish vigil service at 7:00 pm, both on Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Holy Family Elementary School, 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.

Eugene Steinert, 89, of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at the Good Samaritan Society in Ellsworth, Kansas.

A celebration of Eugen’s life will be held at 10 A.M. on Monday, January 05, 2015 at the St. John Lutheran Church in Russell with Pastor Roger Dennis officiating.  Burial will follow at the St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Russell.

Visitation will be from 1 P.M. to 8 P.M. on Sunday, January 04, 2015, at the mortuary.  Family will greet guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Sunday evening.  Memorials may be given to Kans for Kids and can be sent in care of the mortuary.

Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Doris Amelia Steinert, 83, of Russell, Kansas, died on December 29, 2014, at the Ellsworth County Medical Center in Ellsworth, Kansas.

Doris was born on July 21, 1931, in Northern Barton County, Kansas, the daughter of Tobias and Amelia (Bitter) Radke.  She grew up in the Milberger and Russell area and attended local schools.  She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Eugene Steinert on March 12, 1950, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Russell.  From this union Doris and Eugene were blessed with 3 children; sons Alan and Wayne and daughter Lois.  She worked as a bookkeeper for Boogarts Grocery for about 15 years and also worked for Duckwall’s but her primary occupation was being a wife and homemaker for her growing family.  She was a lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church in Russell.  She enjoyed quilting and gardening but most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Surviving family include her husband Eugene of the home, sons Alan Steinert and wife Linda of Pearland, Texas and Wayne Steinert and wife Robin of Dubois, Wyoming; daughter Lois Skinner and husband Robert of Texarkana, Texas; brothers Vernon Radke and wife Pat and Carl Radke; sisters Rosalinda Addington & husband Dale and Norma Koehler and husband Willie; former daughter-in-law, Kay Dolechek of Claflin, Kansas; 8 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, 4 step grandchildren and 8 step great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and grandson Mitchel Eugene Steinert.

A celebration of Doris’ life will be held at 10 A.M. on Monday, January 05, 2015, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Russell with Pastor Roger Dennis officiating.  Burial will follow at the St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Russell.  Visitation will be from 1 P.M. to 8 P.M. on Sunday, January 04, 2015, at the mortuary.  Family will greet guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Sunday evening.  Memorials may be given to Kans for Kids and can be sent in care of the mortuary.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Rosalie Kraft, 95, passed away peacefully on December 27, 2014, at Salina Regional Medical Center.
She was hospitalized as a result of a fall, in which her hip and wrist were fractured, and had undergone surgery.  The fall and accompanying surgery proved to be too difficult for her aging body and after several days she succumbed.

Rosalie was born on December 3, 1919, on the family farm, southeast of Grainfield to Balthasar and Cecelia (Zimmerman) Heier.  She attended school in Grainfield and, because of her desire to graduate, completed her high school education in 3 years by taking junior and senior classes simultaneously.

In 1940 she married Anthony (Tony) Kraft; to this union 7 children were born, 6 sons and 1 daughter.

They made their home on the family farm north of Park, Kansas.  In the late 1960’s, an opportunity presented itself.  Tony and Rosalie shifted gears and became business owners when they purchased the Western Auto Store in Grainfield.  They moved there to be closer to the business.
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Rosalie loved working in the store and learned every aspect of its operation.  She especially enjoyed the bookkeeping and the opportunity to visit with customers as they shopped.

As retirement age approached, both Tony and Rosalie decided to try another adventure and became snowbirds—living in Bullhead City, Arizona in the winter and coming back to Grainfield in the summer.  Their backyard swimming pool was the gathering place for many of the local youngsters to learn how to swim during those summers.

In their later years, Tony and Rosalie sold their Grainfield home and moved to an apartment in Wichita to be closer to their handicapped son, Pat.  When it became apparent that they needed a little more assistance, they moved, finally, to an independent living facility in Salina where another son, Jerry and his wife Karen lived.  The facility, Eaglecrest, was where they lived out the rest of their lives.

Tony passed away in 2010 and two sons, Eugene and Patrick also preceded Rosalie in death.
She is survived by 4 sons, Duane and wife Elaine of Jefferson City MO, Leroy and wife Charlotte of Wichita, Jerry and wife Karen of Salina, and Gail and wife Janice of Antioch CA, and 1 daughter Janice (Kraft) Manhart and husband Larry of Grainfield.  She also leaves 20 grandchildren and 45 great grandchildren to mourn her passing.

Rosalie was always very proud of her family and so enjoyed the times they would stop by and visit with her and Tony, if even for a little while.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 3, 2015 at St. Agnes Catholic Church of Grainfield with Father James Thomas as celebrant. Burial will be in the Grainfield City Cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with a parish vigil service immediately following, at the St. Agnes Religious Education Center in Grainfield.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Kansans for Life, United Cerebral Palsy and St. Agnes Catholic Church Masses. Checks may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS 67752.

Duane Alexander Filbert, 85, Hays, died Monday, December 29, 2014 at his home.

He was born August 29, 1929 in Danby Valley, Kansas the son of Alexander and Katharine (Gross) Filbert.  On October 15, 1950 he married Cora Lee Blocher in Alexander, Kansas.  He was a mechanic and a farmer-stockman and owned and operated Valley Repair in Brownell, Kansas.  He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Hays.

Survivors include his wife, of the home, three sons, Doug Filbert and wife Alison of Milton, FL, Dwight Filbert and wife Michele of Lincoln, NE, and Myron Filbert and wife Erin of Brownell, KS, one daughter, Julie Benedict and husband Reed of Charleston, IL, two sisters, Mary Ann Yeager and husband Gerald of Napa, CA and Judy Boor of Pittsburg, PA, nine grandchildren, Brad Filbert, Stacie Filbert, Stephanie Stone, Kelli Gorley, Courtney Filbert, Breann Benedict, Krina Filbert, and Leah Hunter, sixteen great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Bret Filbert, a brother Edward Filbert and a grandson Dustin Filbert.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Friday, January 2, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church, 305 W. 7th Street.  Burial will be at 3:00 pm on Friday at the Bazine Cemetery, Bazine, KS.  Visitation will be from 4:00 until 6:00 pm on Thursday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine, and from 10:00 am until service time on Friday at the church. 

Memorials are suggested to the Hospice of Hays Medical Center, the First United Methodist Church,  or to the American Cancer Society, in care of the funeral home. 

Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Services for Richard ‘Dick’ Wagner, 62, of Ness City will be held on Friday, January 2, at 2:00PM at the Ness City United Methodist Church. He passed away December 28, 2014, the result of a vehicle accident in Ness County.

Dick was born September 13, 1952, the son of Raymond and Alma (Becker) Wagner of Richmond. He graduated from Central Heights High School in 1970 and from the American Institute of Baking in Manhattan. From 1973-1977 he served as a Seabee in the Navy. He earned his B.A. from Malone College in 1994. He retired after 20 years as maintenance manager of Nickles Bakery in Navarre, Ohio, and for the past 8 years has run Dad’ll Do It handyman service and been involved in many Ness County projects and civic leadership, such as the Fair Board and the recent Christmas Light Parade.

Surviving are his wife, Juliana, of the home; two daughters, Heather Wagner and spouse Ivan Rivera of Rochester, New York, and Rachelle Wagner and David Luberger of University Heights, Ohio; two sisters, Jan and Mike Collins of Garden City, Becky and Bron Wentzel of Watertown, Wisconsin; and a brother, Robert Wagner of Lawrence.

Memorials may be given to Ness City United Methodist Church or Richmond Community Museum and sent to Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 207 N. Pennsylvania, Ness City, KS, 67560.