Mabel Gross, age 86, of Hays, passed away Thursday, November 13, 2014 at hays Medical Center. She was born April 14, 1928 in Hays, Kansas to Alex and Regina (Gottschalk) Bieker. She married Ignatius Pfannenstiel August 31, 1949. He preceded her in death November 11, 2014. She married Herman Gross January 22, 1975. He preceded her in death February 6, 1991.

Mable was a homemaker, a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays and enjoyed spending time with family. She was also a member of the Polka Club

She is survived by sons, Don Pfannenstiel and wife Myra of Hays, Robert Pfannenstiel and wife Gloria of Topeka, KS, Dennis Pfannenstiel and wife Pam of Hays; step sons, Francis Gross of Victoria, KS and Gary Gross and wife Brenda of Victoria, KS; daughters, Marlene Sloan and husband Howard of Hays, Shirley Werth and husband Leslie of Schoenchen, KS, stepdaughters, Judy Whalen and husband Steve of Kansas City, MO, Mary Lou Rupp and husband Charlie of Salina, KS, Carol Kuhn and husband Ron of Scottsbluff, NE; brothers, Kenneth and Willard Bieker of Schoenchen, KS; a sister, Juanita Lyhane of Marysville, KS. She is also survived by 22 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; twin daughters; a great granddaughter, Morgan Mai; two brothers, Marvin and Victor Bieker and three sisters, Lyla Bieker, Alice Sauer and Armella Bianchino.

Funeral Mass will be 10 AM Saturday, November 15, 2014 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Hays.

Visitation will be held Friday 5-8 PM and Saturday 9 AM – 9:30 AM. A parish vigil will be at 7PM Friday all at Brock’s – Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine St Hays, KS 67601.

Memorial contributions are suggested to: Immaculate Heart of Mary Church or Via Christi Assisted Living

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

Fr. Carl A. Kramer, age 88, of Hays, Kansas, died November 11, 2014, at Via Christi Villages in Hays.

Fr. Carl was born on November 29, 1925 in Ogden, Kansas. He was one of four children born to Leo and Kathryn (Porsch) Kramer.

Fr. Carl attended Ogden Grade School in Ogden, Kansas and later attended Sacred Heart High School in Manhattan, Kansas. When entering Sacred Heart, he asked the principal for permission to study Latin. The principal asked why and he answered, “I want to be a Priest.” After attending Sacred Heart for two years and with the encouragement of Msgr. Edmond M. Arpin, Fr. Carl packed his bags and went to St. Louis Preparatory Seminary for his Junior and Senior years of high school. For the next eight years he studied at the Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. His first four years at Kenrick were devoted to college courses and the second four years to Theology. During his high school, college and seminary years, Fr. Carl spent the summers working at different jobs, such as harvest and construction work, in the Ogden and Ft. Riley area. According to Fr. Carl, “Hitchhiking from Ogden to St. Louis was a regular occurrence.”

On March 9, 1952, after years of dedicated study at Kenrick, Fr.Carl was ordained by Bishop Frank A. Thill. His was the last ordination held at the old Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina, Kansas. His first Solemn Mass was held on March 11, 1952 at St. Patrick’s Church in Ogden.

Fr. Carl’s first assignment was at St. Andrew’s in Abilene, Kansas, where he assisted Rev. C.J. Roche for over five years. While he was there, he also assisted Msgr. R.M. Menard with the Immaculate Conception Parish in Solomon, Kansas. For a period of time, he was the parish priest at the St Phillip Church in Hope, Kansas, and on August 20, 1955 was made administrator of St. Columba Parish in Elmo, Kansas.

In 1958, Bishop Freking assigned Fr. Carl as the first full-time Chaplin to the Catholic Student Center at Kansas State University. The Center consisted of an old house and a handful of Kansas State students. Under the direction of Bishop Freking and with the perseverance of Fr. Carl, St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center was built and dedicated in April of 1963. Fr. Carl spent 18 years at St. Isidore’s and during that time the Center grew from a handful of Catholic students into nearly 3,000 strong.

February 1976, Fr. Carl was assigned to his home Parish, St. Patrick’s in Ogden, and it was here that he celebrated his 25th Ordination in 1977. While he served the Manhattan, Ogden and Ft. Riley communities, he was well known at the hospitals and nursing homes for his daily visits to the sick and dying, no matter their faith. In 1982, St. Xavier’s Parish in Junction City, Kansas became his next assignment and he served there until 1984. From 1984 until 1986, he was assigned to St. Mary’s Church in Gorham, Kansas. In 1986, Fr. Carl was assigned to Immaculate Heart of Mary in Hays, Kansas, and on July 1, 1997, he retired as Parochial Vicar but continued his residency. As he had done at his previous assignments, he became well known for visiting the sick and grievously afflicted on a daily basis.

In recognition and gratitude for Fr. Carl’s many years of service, celebrations were common occurrences. In 2002, in honor of his 50th Jubilee, celebrations were held at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Hays, and at St. Patrick’s in Ogden. Both celebrations brought family and friends together filled with congratulatory toasting, as well as lots of laughter and reminiscing. On October 12, 2012, Bishop Edward Weisenburger and Diocesan Priests, along with family and friends came together to celebrate Fr. Carl’s 60th Ordination Anniversary at Via Christi in Hays, where Fr. Carl was residing due to his declining health. Fr. Carl so enjoyed the time spent with his brother Priests at this celebration.

Fr. Carl was a well-known homilist in the Salina Diocese because of his “Preaching Box.” He wanted his homilies to be interesting and remembered. He got the idea from TV commercials and decided to incorporate it into his homilies to help drive the lesson home. Parishioners looked forward to his homilies as they never knew what he was going to pull out of that box and how it would relate to his message.

Anyone who knew Fr. Carl, knew that he was an avid jogger and a person with a true sense of humor. He jogged at least two miles daily and made sure that his jogging did not interfere with his priestly duties. When he was asked why he jogged so much, his reply was, “I want to be a good-looking corpse.” His family and friends will always remember his great sense of humor along with his many witty remarks.

Fr. Carl had one special woman in his life who he loved dearly. Her name was Kathryn Kramer, his mother. She was his housekeeper while he served in the Manhattan, Ogden and Junction City Parishes. She was dedicated to her son’s priesthood, and she never complained about the work that needed to be done. Fr. Carl’s father, Leo, passed away one year prior to his ordination.

During his tenure as a Priest, he served as State Chaplain for the Daughters of Isabella and Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus, of which he was a third-degree member of Council #6984. He enjoyed traveling, visiting with everyone and keeping up on the latest news out of Ogden, especially when it involved his home Parish, St. Patrick’s. He was very passionate about the Ogden community where he was known as “Jigger.”

Fr. Carl is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Vincent, Francis and Edwin, his nephews Kyle and Stephen Kramer, and his niece Teresa Sloan. Fr. Carl is survived by his nephew Vincent (Ramona) Kramer II, of Manhattan, and nieces, Mary Ann Dickerson of Olathe, Kansas, Susie (Joe) Winkler of Lincoln, Nebraska, Amy Iams of Topeka, Kansas, and LeAnn Kramer of Kansas City, Missouri. He is also survived by several great nieces and great nephews and their families, along with his true companions, Joe and Donna Deckman of Hays.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 4:00 PM Thursday at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hays, Kansas, with Most Reverend Edward J. Weisenburger, Bishop of Salina Diocese, as celebrant.

A visitation will be held from 2:00 until 4:00 PM Thursday at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hays, KS, prior to the Memorial Mass.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Ogden, Kansas, with Most Reverend Edward J. Weisenburger, Bishop of Salina Diocese, as celebrant. Interment will follow in the St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Ogden.

A Parish Vigil will be held at 7:00 PM Friday at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Manhattan, with the family to receive friends from 6:00 PM until the service time.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that memorials be made to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Ogden, Kansas, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Hays, Kansas, or the Parkinson’s Foundation. Contributions may be left in care of the Hays Memorial Chapel, 1906 Pine Street, Hays, KS 67601, or the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.

Onita Fern (Steen) Little, 97, formerly of Hays, Kansas, passed away November 11, 2014, at Midland Hospice House in Topeka, Kansas. She moved to Topeka in 2013 to live with family.

She was born August 20, 1917 in Wichita, Kansas to Luther and Josephine (Stover) Steen. She grew up in Baldwin City, Dodge City, and Maize, and attended Friends University and taught in a one room schoolhouse near Wichita. She dated and fell in love with Francis Thomas (Tom) Little and they were married March 1, 1942 in Parsons, Kansas. Tom passed away on April 22, 1974. She worked at Travenol and Area Agency on Aging in Hays, retiring in 1982. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Hays.

Onita found joy in family and music and peace in prayer. Her family loved hearing her remarkable talent on the piano.

Surviving family includes three sons, David (Barbara) Little, Camdenton, Missouri, Robert (Carolyn) Little, Topeka, Kansas, and Steven (Kathy) Little, Hays, Kansas, seven grandchildren, David (Connie) Little, Michael (Heather) Little, Corey (Courtney) Little, Liza (Michael) Sorrels, Jennifer (Eric) Armstrong, Shanann (Matt) Peterson, Sheryl (Kelly) Rippel, and six great grandchildren, Amanda Little, Joshua Little, Jacob Little, Blake Hall, Brynn Hall, and Braydin Little.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a sister Maurita (Dorman) and a brother Eldon.

Graveside services will be at 1:00 pm on Friday, November 14, 2014 at the Fort Hays Memorial Gardens Cemetery, west of Hays, where interment will be beside her beloved husband Tom. The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon until 12:45 at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Music Ministry of the First United Methodist Church, Hays, Kansas or the Midland Hospice House, Topeka, Kansas, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Larry Earl Brenner, age 60, of Hays passed away Monday, November 10, 2014, at his home after his battle with cancer. He was born November 17, 1953 in Larned, Kansas, to Earl and Corrine (Janke) Brenner. He married Kathleen (Walters) Amerine on January 17, 1976, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays.

Larry was a longtime Auctioneer and Real Estate Broker for Farmland Auction and Realty Inco. He was also very active in many charitable auctions and organizations throughout Kansas including Sacred Heart Catholic School in Salina, TMP ACE Auction in Hays, St. Mary’s School of Ellis, Hays Children’s Center and Fort Hays State University Athletics Association.

He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays, 4th degree Knights of Columbus Bishop Cunningham Assembly and the Hays Optimist Club. He enjoyed raising and caring for his cattle and was a steward to the land.

He is survived by his wife, Kathleen of Hays, KS; four sons, Dave (Stacey) Brenner of Great Bend, KS, Mitch (Cindy) Brenner of Meade, KS, Matthew (Mandy) Brenner of Ellis, KS and Adam (Mindy) Brenner of Olathe, KS; his father, Earl Brenner of Hays; two brothers, Lowell (Christine) Brenner of Coats, KS and Lance (Michelle) Brenner of Ellis, KS; two sisters, Laytha (Mike) Gnad of Hays and Linda (Tom) Lichtonwaldt of Tehachipi, CA; seven grandchildren, Megan (Ryan) Hammeke, Ashley (Conner) Williams, Molly Brenner, Mason Brenner, Braden Brenner, Logan Brenner and Anna Brenner as well as two great grandchildren, Emma and Easton Hammeke.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Corrine Brenner.

Funeral Mass will be 10 AM Friday, November 14, 2014 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Hays.

Visitation will be held Thursday 5-8 PM at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Activities Center.

A 4th degree Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 6:30 followed by a parish vigil at 7PM Thursday all at the IHMC Activities Center. A 4th degree honor guard will be present at 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM.

Arrangements in care of Brock’s – Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine St Hays, KS 67601.

Memorial contributions are suggested to: Immaculate Heart of Mary Building Fund, TMP-Marian Endowment Fund or Hospice at Hays Medical Center.

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

WaKeeney resident Mary Lou Goetz passed away Saturday, November 8, 2014, at Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital, WaKeeney.  She was born March 25, 1934, in Quinter, Kansas, to Louis H. and Rose (Haselhorst) Berens.

Mary Lou attended Banner Elementary School, and graduated from Collyer High School.  On August 12, 1952, Mary Lou was united in marriage to Virgil J. “Jim” Goetz at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Collyer.  They enjoyed 62 years of marriage together.  Alongside her husband, Mary Lou was very active with the Eagles, having been a charter member of F.O.E. #3774 Auxiliary.  She was a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary.  Mary Lou was also a member of Christ the King Catholic Church and Altar Society.  She worked for the ASCS office in WaKeeney from 1954 to 1989, when she retired.  Mary Lou led a very active life and cherished time spent with her family, friends and community, all the way up until just shortly before her death.  She enjoyed doing needlework, and loved to donate her time to the organizations she belonged to.

Survivors include her husband, Jim, of the family home; two children, Diana L. (Leiker) and husband Edward J. McCarthy, of Milton, Florida, and Leon E. Leiker and wife Debbie of Olathe; five grandchildren, Eric Sams, Angela Sams, Anthony Sams, Chad Leiker and wife Kelly, and Joel Leiker and wife Lindsey; eight great-grandchildren, Aubrey Sams, Kaitlynn Roll, Kalex Lundgren, Kamille Kirk, Lauren Leiker, Jacob Leiker, Noah Leiker, and Chase Leiker; one brother, Robert L. “Bob” Berens and wife Joan, of WaKeeney; and three sisters, Darlene and husband Kenneth Stenzel of Overland Park, Joan and husband Gene Deges of Aurora, Colorado, and Karen and husband Donald Coons of Sebastian, Florida.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at Christ the King Catholic Church, WaKeeney.  Burial will be in the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery, WaKeeney.

Visitation will be Tuesday, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  A parish vigil service will be at 7:00 p.m. Both will be held at the funeral home in WaKeeney.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Robert D. Hansen Diabetes Fund or O’Connell Youth Ranch.  Checks made to the organization may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS  67672.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.schmittfuneral.com.

Vera Florence Dawson, 102, of Russell, Kansas, died on Thursday, November 06, 2014, at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell.

Vera was born on June 03, 1912, in Russell, Kansas, the daughter of Henry and Cathrine Elizabeth (Mai) Reinhardt.  She grew up on the family farm south of Russell and graduated from Russell High School in 1930.  She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Wallace H. Dawson on January 28, 1962.  She worked as a sales person for J.C. Penny’s and Jane Harris Shop.  She was a longtime member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Russell.  She was also a member of the Love Circle, Life Member of the V.F.W. Post 6240 Ladies Auxiliary, Russell Regional Hospital Auxiliary, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Bridgearama, and various other bridge clubs.  She enjoyed needlework, reading, cooking, playing cards and planning social events.

She is survived by many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Wallace on March 17, 1972; brothers Milton, Arnold and Martin Reinhardt; sisters Olinda Stenzel, Alvina Michael, Pauline Boxberger, Elfreda Boxberger Stenzel, Ella Nora Eichman, Esther Krug, Isabel Eichman, Hattie Wittman, Martha Dumler and Marie Burket.

A celebration of Vera’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, November 13, 2014, at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Russell with Pastor John Thompson officiating.  Burial will take place immediately following the church service,  at the Russell City Cemetery.  Visitation will be 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Wednesday, November 12, 2014, with family present to greet guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Wednesday evening.  Memorials may be given to Trinity United Methodist Church or Russell Regional Hospital Auxiliary and sent in care of the mortuary.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Donald L. “Don” Butcher, 82, Hays, died Thursday, November 6, 2014 at the Via Christi Villages.

He was born July 13, 1932 in Topeka, Kansas the son of John G. and Nannie Lee (Harris) Butcher.  He graduated from Topeka High School in 1952 and received his BS degree in Geology from Kansas State University.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran stationed in Guam during the Korean War. He was a geologist for the Kansas Corporation Commission until his retirement. He was married to Imogene H. Butcher and later to Linda K. Butcher. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the VFW Post #9076, the Hays American Legion Post #173, the Elks Lodge in Russell, Kansas, and was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.

He was a guest speaker of Geology at FHSU, was a loyal KSU football fan, and enjoyed golf, fishing, poker, gunsmithing, gardening, and going to gun shows. For many years he was Santa Claus at The Mall in Hays.

Survivors include one son, Dale Butcher and wife Renne of Amarillo, TX, three daughters Sharon Hamilton and husband Keith of Bellevue, WA, Glenda Tholen and husband Bryan of Hays, and Jamie Malone and husband Jim of Russell, Kansas, step sons Troy Bell and wife Debbie of Windsor, CO, and Jason Bell of Orlando, FL, a sister in law Sylvia Butcher of Newton, KS, and grandchildren Randee Olive and husband Travis, Hannah Hamilton, Harris Hamilton, and Hadley Butcher, four step grandchildren, and three great grandchildren Tristan Olive, Teixeira Olive, and Trexynn Olive.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Mark T. Butcher, and a brother Gerald R. Butcher.

Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, November 10, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church, Hays. Inurnment with military honors by the Hays VFW and American Legion will be in the Mount Allen Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 5:00 pm until 7:00 at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine, and on Monday from 9:30 am until service time at the church.

Memorials are suggested in Don’s memory to the Mark T. Butcher Memorial Scholarship Fund for Geology students at FHSU, Hospice of Hays Medical Center, or to the First United Methodist Church, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.