Roy Steven Ochs Jr. was born August 31, 1930, at the Gove County Hospital to Roy and Margaret (Ochs) Ochs. He passed away on Monday September 22, 2014, at Gove County Medical Center, Quinter, at the age of 84.

He attended Jumbo Grade School and Grainfield High School. He went on to serve our country in the United States Army. He served overseas in Germany in 1952. He was honorably discharged in 1954.

On August 31, 1954, Roy was united in marriage to Verlene Deges in the St. Agnes Church in Grainfield. They enjoyed 60 years of marriage together. He was a farmer and rancher his entire life. Roy was proud of the land he farmed and the livestock he raised. He was actively farming upon his death. When Roy wasn’t hard at work on the farm, he enjoyed hunting. The Ochs’ home was the central gathering place for pheasant hunting, jokes, card games and family gatherings.

He was a member of the St Agnes Catholic Church, as well as the Knights of Columbus. He was an American Legion and Gove County Farm Bureau member. Roy absolutely cherished his family. He enjoyed the time spent with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Roy will be dearly missed by many friends and family, including his wife, Verlene  of the family home; three daughters Dee (Jack) Foster of Grainfield, Dar (Tim) Hickert of Hays, Connie (Gary) Rupp of Tribune; one son Ron (Lesa) of Quinter. Nine grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; and two sisters, Elsie and husband Darrell Karlin of Hays, Francis Witt of Grandview, Mo.  Preceding him in death were four sisters, Mary Kaiser, Rosie Weber, Anna Wolf, and Antonia Rupp; and two brothers, George and John.
Roy’s memory remains a lasting impression in the lives of his family and friends.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 26, 2014 at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Grainfield.  Burial will be in the Grainfield Cemetery.

Visitation will be Thursday, from 5 to 7 p.m., at St. Agnes Religious Education Center. A parish vigil service will be immediately following at 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Grainfield American Legion or Gove County Medical Center.  Checks made to either organization may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS 67752.

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

Ronald L. Pfannenstiel, 65, Hays, died Friday, September 19, 2014 at his home.

He was born February 7, 1949, in Hays the son of Ted and Rosie (Kisner) Pfannenstiel. On June 12, 1982, he married Lynette Bickle.

He was a middle school teacher for many years in Burrton, Kansas, where he also coached football and basketball. He also sold Knights of Columbus Insurance for many years and later sold insurance and investments for Lincoln Investments.

He was a graduate of St. Joseph Military Academy, and received his BS and MS degrees in education from Fort Hays State University. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, the Third Degree Council #1325 Knights of Columbus and the Bishop Cunningham Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.

Survivors include his ex-wife, Lynette of Hays, three sons; TJ Pfannenstiel and fiancé Ashley Archer of Sierra Vista, AZ, Zachary Pfannenstiel and wife Renee of Sierra Vista, AZ, and Garrett Pfannenstiel and wife Claudia of Hays, a daughter; Whitney Pfannenstiel of Kansas City, KS, two brothers; Michael Pfannenstiel and wife Anne of Manassas, Virginia, Wesley Pfannenstiel and wife Nancy of Broken Arrow, OK, two sisters; Debbie Kingsley and husband Doug of Hollister, MO, and Christine Unrein and husband Bruce of Hays, and two grandchildren, Addison and Sam Pfannenstiel.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, October 7, 2014, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.   Inurnment will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery.  The family will receive friends on Monday, October 6, 2014, from 5:00 pm until 8:00 and on Tuesday, October 7, from 2:00 pm until 2:45, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine.  A parish vigil service will be at 6:30 pm followed by a combined third and fourth degree Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:00, both on Monday, October 6, at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Fresenius Medical Care Dialysis Clinic at Hays Medical Center, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Warren James Friess, age 82, passed away at Rhode Island Suites, Ransom, Kansas, on September 20, 2014.

He was born on January 3, 1932, the son of Mathias and Mayme Roths Friess. He was the tenth of nineteen children.

He was a cook for most of his life including his 20 years in the Navy. He served on many ships including the USS Yorktown CVS-10, USS Oriskany CVA-34, USS Orono YTB-190, USS Hornet CVS-12, and the USS Coral Sea CVA-43.

He married Naomi Garside on April 13, 1968 in Livermore, California. She preceded him in death on September 24, 1988.

He is survived by his brothers, Elmer, Easton, PA, Donald, Dodge City, KS, Harold, Topeka, KS, Frederick, Hays, KS, Maurice, Ransom, KS, Daniel, Spearville, KS; sisters, Janice Hornung, Spearville, KS, Sr. Janice Friess, Wichita, KS, Anna Mae Ferguson, Lebanon, MO, Mary Frances Flax, Ransom, Rosella McLain, Ransom, KS, Cathy Ator, Prairie Village, KS; step granddaughter, Dottie Lynn; step great-granddaughter, Dianna Valin-Ensminger; and 2 step great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; spouse; step daughter, Doris; brothers Cletus, Lewis, Eugene, Bernard; and sisters, Laurene Marvin, and Marjorie Flax.

Viewing will be Tuesday, September, 23, 9:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M. and Wednesday, September, 24, 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City.

Rosary will be on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at St. Aloysius Church, Ransom.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, September, 25, 2014, 10:30 A.M. at St. Aloysius Church, Ransom.

Burial in the St. Aloysisus Cemetery, Ransom.

Memorial contributions may be given to Hospice of the Prairie, Dodge City, Rhode Island Suites, Ransom, or masses.

CLEVELAND — David William Knepp, 44, of Conneaut, Ohio, passed away peacefully, Friday, September 19, 2014 at the David Simpson Hospice House in Cleveland, Ohio surrounded by his loving family.

He was born May 30, 1970 in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, the son of Ronald and Patricia (Bingaman). Because of his love for God and a desire to serve Him fully, David was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on May 2, 1987. David graduated from Chief Logan High School, in Lewistown in 1988. After graduation, on September 1, 1988, he started his cherished career as a full time volunteer minister, a career that spanned 23 years.  He continued his training, graduating from the 32nd class of the Ministerial Training School, in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, in 1997 being willing to serve wherever he was asked. Since that time he served as an Elder in Lewistown, Franklin, and Erie (Bayview) Congregations in Pennsylvania, as well as in Hill City, Kansas.

David married the love of his life, Deborah Chodorski on March 6, 2004, and recently enjoyed their 10th wedding anniversary this year. To support his lifelong passion of studying and teaching the Bible, David owned and operated Knepp’s Interiors.  His business endeavors included office cleaning, floor detailing, and automotive interior repairs. He also enjoyed his work as a part-time dispatcher for the Graham County (Kansas) Sheriff’s Office.

David also loved to learn new things, study the Bible, teach the Bible, bird watch, travel, but most of all he enjoyed the time he got to spend with his family and friends.

Mr. Knepp is survived by his loving wife of 10 years, Deborah; his parents, Ronald and Patricia Knepp of Lewistown, PA; brother, Donnie (Pam) Knepp and their son Tyson of Penn’s Creek, PA; sister, Tammy (Jeff) Barton and their daughter Victoria “Tori” of North Olmstead, OH; his father and mother-in-law, Danny and Susan Chodorski of Monroe Twp; and grandmother-in-law, Marjorie Emerson of Kingsville.

David was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Paul and Myrtle Knepp, maternal grandparents, Guy and Martha Bingaman; and his grandfather-in-law, Richard Emerson.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 11:00 AM, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 14250 W. Lake Rd., W. Springfield, PA, with Everett Rodrigues, presiding. At  10 AM central time, A simulcast  of the service will be held at the Hill City Kingdom Hall, 622W. Garnett, Hill City, KS 67642.  Inurnment will follow at East Conneaut Cemetery, Furnace Rd., Conneaut, Ohio.

Friends may call on Friday, September 26, 2014 from 3-5 and 6-8 PM, at the THOMPSON-SMITH-NESBITT FUNERAL HOME, 345 Main St. Conneaut, Ohio.

Should friends desire memorial contributions may be made to the family.

THOMPSON-SMITH-NESBITT FUNERAL HOME, 345 Main St. Conneaut, is honored to serve the family. Online guestbook and condolences available at www.thompsonsmithnesbitt.com.

Lera Vesta Kesler was born July 29, 1923 to Walter B. and Ruth M (Miller) Kesler. She went to be with her Lord on September 8, 2014.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Sylvan Kesler; a sister Vivian M. Norton; two brothers-in-law; and a sister-in-law. Those surviving are a brother, Roland (Valetta) Kesler of Quinter; two sisters, Doris K. Metzler (Dale) Ulrich of Bridgewater, Virginia, and Carol J. Hess of Fort Wayne, Indiana; and a brother-in-law, Leo Norton of Park, Kansas.

Lera was a 1946 graduate of Quinter High School, and graduated from McPherson College in 1953. She also attended Biola College of Talbot Seminary in LaMirada, California. Several years were spent in Phoenix, Arizona teaching in church-sponsored nursery schools. Later she operated her own daycare/pre-school in Quinter. She also did summer tutoring of kindergarten through third grade reading and math.

Lera enjoyed watching nature shows and Christian programs on T.V. She was a past member of Harvestime Assembly of God Church in WaKeeney and will be remembered as being a prayer warrior.

A memorial service will be held on October 1, 2014 at the Quinter Church of the Brethren. Inurnment will be in Baker Township Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Gove County Medical Center Long Term Care. Checks made to the organization may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS 67672.

Lera will be remembered by family and friends for many years to come.

Herman Lester Beall died September 16, 2014, in Wichita, Kansas at the age of 76. At his bedside was his oldest son, Eddie Don Beall. He was born March 16, 1938 at Carrizo Springs, Texas, to Lester Ingrahm and Dorothy Juanita (Mitchell) Beall.

Herman became a member of the Shady Grove Baptist Church and attended school in Dawson, Texas. As a young adult, Herman moved to Kansas, where he met and married Nyla Brown. They became the proud parents of three children: Eddie Don, Lester Ray and Nyla Juanita. Herman’s life interests were hunting, fishing, riding with his son Eddie in the tow truck, and watching Dallas Cowboys games.

Herman was preceded in death by his wife of 31 years, Nyla Brown Beall; his parents, Lester and Dorothy; sister, Rosie Juanita Beall; three nephews and two nieces. Survivors include two sons, Eddie and wife Bridget Beall of Wakeeney, Lester and wife Tina Beall of Benkelman, Nebraska; one daughter, Nyla Juanita Beall of Topeka; one brother Donald Beall of Maybank, Texas; two sisters, Tissie Brunner of Maybank, Texas and Elizabeth Harvell of Wills Point, Texas; ten grandchildren, Jennifer Beall, Sierra Werth, Jessica Werth, Nathaniel Werth, Ashley Ambrosek, Leslie Beall, Ronnie Beall, Larry Wilcox, Shree Cole, and Savannah Thomas; and one great-grandchild, Ayla Werth. He is also survived by many relatives and friends, who will miss him dearly.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, September 25, 2014 at Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney. A luncheon will follow at the Western Cooperative Electric Building. Inurnment will be 3:00 p.m., Friday September 26, 2014, at Fairview Cemetery, Atwood.

There will be no visitation as cremation was chosen.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Herman Beall Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of his son, Eddie Beall, 415 S. 6th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

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