Florence M. Koerner, 89, Hays, died Thursday, September 11, 2014 at the Hays Medical Center.

She was born October 20, 1924 in Loretta, Kansas the daughter of John and Catherine (Schoenfeldt) Basgall.  On April 20, 1942 she married Julius Koerner, Sr. in Hays.  He died September 27, 1988.  She worked at Travenol in Hays for many years and was also a Senior Companion for many years.  She had also cleaned homes, was a personal attendant, and worked in a bakery.  She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church,  Daughters of Isabella, the Perpetual Adorers, and was a past member of the VFW Auxiliary, the St. John’s Auxiliary, and the Christian Mothers in Munjor.  She taught religion at both St. Francis Catholic Church in Munjor and at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.  She loved going to church every day and praying the rosary, loved baking, sewing, crocheting, bingo, pinochle, making homemade noodles and chocolate popcorn.

Survivors include two sons; Julius Koerner, Jr. and wife Mary Jane of Munjor, and Kevin Koerner and wife Geri of Hays, five daughters; Ida Mae Gottschalk of Galesville, WI, Rose Ann Jacobs and husband James of Hays, Nora Koelsch and husband Jim of Clearwater, KS, Karen Bieker of Hays, and Colleen Camarata and husband Dr. Joseph of Overland Park, KS, a sister JoAnn Schuckman of LaCrosse, KS, a daughter in law, Judy (Koerner) Smith, seventeen grandchildren, twenty seven great grandchildren, and ten great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, a son Richard M. Koerner, a grandson Russell Werth, granddaughter Nancy Austin, great granddaughter Julie Windholz, sons in law; Tom Bieker and Glenn Philleps, brothers Henry, Fidelis, Clarence, Everett, Sylvester, John, Jerome, Maurice, and Arthur Basgall, and three sisters, Mary Urban, Helen Holmeister, and Frances Schuckman.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Monday, September 15, 2014 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.  Burial will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 pm on Sunday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 Monday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine.  A Perpetual Adorers rosary will be at 6:00, a Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 6:30, followed by a parish vigil service at 7:00, all on Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Building Fund, the Hays Senior Companions, or to Holy Family Elementary School, in care of the funeral home.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Jacob F. “Jake” Arnold, 82, Hays, died Monday, September 8, 2014, at Via Christi Villages.

He was born January 29, 1932, in Hays the son of Jacob F. and Rosa (Leiker) Arnhold. On November 5, 1955, he married Janice R. Kryzer in Hays.

He graduated from Hays High School in 1950 and from Missouri Auction School with the title of Colonel in 1956. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where he was a long time usher, and was a lifetime member of the 3rd degree Knights of Columbus Council #1325. He was also a member of the Kansas Auctioneer Association and the Ellis County Historical Society.

When he was younger, he drove oilfield trucks and hauled oil derricks. He then managed the Horseshoe Bar & Grill on 6th Street and later on 8th and Vine. He was a car salesman for James Motor Company until his retirement. He loved auctioneering as it was his passion, loved listening and dancing to polka music, playing with his children and grandchildren and attending their school programs and athletic events.

He is survived by his wife, of the home, two daughters, June Pennington and husband John of Hays, and Julie Holmes and husband Dave of Madison, Alabama, a son Jay Arnold of Mission, Kansas, three granddaughters, Colleen Olson and husband Stean of Russell, Lesley Pennington of Topeka, and Erin Pennington of Hays, and a great granddaughter Georgia Rose Olson of Russell.

He was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers, Celly, Alex, Fred, Rich, Isadore, and Joe Arnhold, and eight sisters, Amelia Herrman, Anna Rome, Nora Seitz, Irene Witt, Rita Rohleder, Marietta Swim, Berniece Hoskins and an infant sister.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Friday, September 12, 2014 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 8:00 pm on Thursday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 Friday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine. A parish vigil service will be at 6:30 pm followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:00, both on Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the St. Joseph Church elevator fund, Hospice of Hays Medical Center, or to Via Christi Villages, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Robert James “Bob” Nowlin, a lifelong resident of WaKeeney, Kansas, passed away on Monday, September 8, 2014, at the age of 87 at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital.

He was born on December 19, 1926, to Cleo and Louise (Buchholz) Nowlin in WaKeeney.

Robert proudly served in the United States Navy during World War II aboard a destroyer, the USS Washington and a mine sweeper, YDG-6.  He was employed by the railroad for approximately 10 years, worked several years for Dr. Phillips who was a veterinarian, and the Trego County highway department for about 36 years before retiring. 

Robert was a member of the American Legion and the VFW for many years.  He was an avid hunter and enjoyed playing pool and playing cards with the guys, spending time with his grandchildren, and in his spare time he could be found watching a good old western on the television. (Especially if it was a John Wayne movie.)  Gardening was a favorite past-time for Robert too. His onions won a blue ribbon at the 2013 Trego County Fair.

Survivors include: son, Don Nowlin and his wife Betty of Perry KS; son Dennis Nowlin of Ellis KS; son Les Nowlin and his wife Dana of Cleveland, OK; 6 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sister Betty Rodie of Wauneta NE; and brother David Nowlin of WaKeeney KS.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Cleo Nowlin and Louise (Buchholz) Nowlin; son, Robert Charles “Chuck” Nowlin; brother, Charles Delay Nowlin; and sister, Vera Johnson.

Services for Robert will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, September 12, 2014 at Schmitt Funeral Home with burial service in the WaKeeney City Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday, September 12, 2014 from noon to 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.  Checks made to the organization may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

LA CROSSE — James H. Johnson, age 92, died Monday, September 8, 2014, at Locust Grove Village Nursing Home in La Crosse, Kansas.

He was born May 30, 1922, in Paragould, Arkansas, to Frank L. and Martha Faye (Dixon) Johnson.

He married Frances (Allison)  on January 16,1946 in Carmi, IL.  She died on April 4, 2004.

He was a farmer for a few years in southern Illinois then moved to Colorado in 1957.  He worked as a mechanic on the titan missile for the Martin and Marietta in Littleton, CO for nine years.  He moved to La Crosse, Kansas in 2000 , and was a member of the First Christian Church of La Crosse, Kansas.

He was a WWII  Navy veteran and lived the last four years at the Locust Grove Village in La Crosse, Kansas.

Survivors include one son, Larry K. Johnson, Rush Center, KS; one daughter, Linda Mastroni and husband, Leonard, La Crosse, KS;  three grandchildren, Sheila Sizemore and husband, ,Pastor Mark, La Crosse, Sarah Pfannenstiel and husband, Adam, N. Kansas City, MO; James Mastroni, Hays, KS; two great grandchildren, Mark Sizemore and Amada Sizemore.

He was preceded in death be his parents; wife; one grandson, Shawn Alan Mastroni; two brothers, Daniel and Arthur Johnson; one sister Emma Burton-Sanchez; and one infant brother, Thomas James Johnson.

Service are 10:00 A.M. Friday, September 12, 2014, at the First Christian Church, 619 Oak Street, La Crosse, Kansas. Burial in La Crosse City Cemetery with military honors by the Navy Funeral Honors Burial Detail.

Memorials to First Christian Church, La Crosse, KS or Rush County Relay for Life. Cline’s Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601 is in charge of services.  Condolences can be sent via email to [email protected].

VICTORIA — Debra D. (Gleason) Kisner, age 62, of Victoria passed peacefully Saturday, September 6, 2014, at Hays Medical Center after her short yet courageous battle with cancer.

Debra was born March 25, 1952, at the Gleason Hospital, Larned, KS to Verne M. “Bud” and Lorene (Dykes) Gleason. She married Roger P. Kisner on June 13, 1981, in Hays, KS.

She grew up on a working cattle ranch in Stafford County, graduated from St. John High School in 1970, and attended Kansas State University and Fort Hays State University.

Debra had a tremendous work ethic that began during her childhood. She and her husband formed Kisner’s Auction Services and she worked as head cashier until their transition with Purple Wave Auction Inc.  In her position with Purple Wave, Debra continued to work in customer service until her retirement in February, 2014. Debra was also a past president of the Kansas Auctioneers Association Auxiliary.

She loved animals, the outdoors and was very proud of her roots growing up working with horses and livestock and as a child, entertaining the public at numerous equine shows and rodeos performing her skilled horsemanship.

Survivors include her husband, Roger, of the home; one daughter, Laura Kisner and fiancée, Shaun Roth, Wichita, KS; one son, John Kisner and fiancée, Lisa Jones, Ellis, KS; one granddaughter, Briauna, two brothers, Darryl Gleason, Wichita, KS; Patrick Gleason, Larned, KS; one sister, Karla Stevens and husband, Stephen, Normal, IL; parents in law, Alverna and Ambrose Kisslinger, Ransom, KS; two brothers-in-law, David Kisner and wife, Susan, Hays, KS; Rex Kisner and wife, Lena, Hutchinson, KS; one sister-in-law, Mary Jane Spresser, Denver, CO; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Debra is also survived by her beloved pets, the yorkies: Spankey, Lacey and Bailey.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and father-in-law, Anthony “Tony” Kisner.

Services are 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, September 16, 2014, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Hays. Kansas. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.

A vigil service will be at 7:00 P.M. Monday at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays, 1919 east 22nd Street Hays, Kansas 67601.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays and from 9:30 to 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, at the church.

Memorials to Cancer Council of Ellis County or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Condolences can be sent via email to [email protected].

Frances L. Wright, 100, Hays, died Monday, September 08, 2014 at the Via Christi Villages.

She was born January 16, 1914 in Calhan, Colorado the daughter of Arthur S. and Nellie R. (Dewell) Miller. She assembled aircraft at Boeing during World War II and was a ward secretary in addition to being a housewife and Mother.

On August 7, 1943 she married Ray E. Wright in Ft. Monmouth, NJ.  He died in March of 2007. She was baptized into the Evangelistic Church and was a graduate of Fowler High School. She enjoyed cooking and baking and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include a son, Richard Wright and wife Mary of Hays, a brother Karl Miller of Prescott, AZ, grandchildren, Christopher Wright, Tim Wright, Mitch Wright, Carson Wright, and Robin Wright.

She was preceded in death by her husband, a son Dr. Timothy Ray Wright, a brother Emerson Miller, and a sister Lois Chipman.

Funeral services will be at 12:30 pm on Friday, September 12, 2014 at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street.  Burial will be in the Kansas Veterans Cemetery in WaKeeney, Kansas. Visitation will be from 12:00 noon until service time on Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Westview Church, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Norma Carlson of Pharr, Texas, passed peacefully away September 4, 2014 in the WaKeeney hospital.  She was 91 years of age. Norma was born in Salina, Kansas to Harold and Mildred (Fulton) Stephenson.

On June 21, 1942 she was united in marriage to Richard Carlson in Mentor, Kansas. They enjoyed 71 years of marriage together, until Richard’s death on February 4, 2014. They lived in Salina for 60 years then; due to Richard’s health moved to Pharr, Texas.  This was their home for the past 34 years.

Norma was a homemaker. She was a very active lady and was never too shy to speak to strangers. She enjoyed camping, traveling, square dancing, playing cards and exercising. She was always seen walking around in the retirement park visiting and finding out what was going on. Norma loved to get people involved in the activities that were offered. She always snatched new people in the park and tried to include them in park activities. She had a smile that people loved and a wit that surprised many.

Norma was preceded in death by her husband Richard and sister Edna Fern (Eddie) Lanterman. She is survived by daughters Susan Jane Corder (Mike) of Evanston, WY and Barbara Carlson of WaKeeney, KS, 2 grandsons Matthew Carlson Corder (Robyn) of San Antonio, TX,  Scott David Corder (Sue) of West Valley, UT, and 1 great-grandson Cage Carlson Corder of West Valley, UT, and her Tip-O-Texas family in Pharr, TX.

Schmitt Funeral Home of WaKeeney is in charge of arrangements.

Cremation was chosen.  There will be a graveside service at a later date.

Alvin “Al” Pfannenstiel, age 90, of Leawood, Kansas formerly of Great Bend and Hays, passed away Sunday, September 7, 2014 at Sweet Life of Brookdale in Overland Park. He was born October 20, 1923 in Munjor, Kansas to Joe B. and Pauline (Befort) Pfannenstiel. Al graduated from Hays High School in 1942. He married Mildred Staab October 19, 1949 in Hays, Kansas.

Al was a store manager with Safeway and then became owner and operator of the Airliner Motel in Great Bend for 18 years and then Al’s College Market in Hays for 9 years. Al could be referred to as the consummate working man. Work was his hobby, whether as a business owner or in retirement when gardening, maintenance tasks and small building project kept him busy. He was immediately drafted after graduation serving in the United States Air Force as a radio operator but never went abroad during WW II.

He is survived by his wife, Mildred; a son, Don (Mitzi)Pfannenstiel of leawood, Kansas; two grandchildren, Kenedy and Campbell Pfannenstiel; a brother, Herbert Pfannenstiel of Santa Barbara, CA; and a sister, Cecilia Davidson, Mountain View, CA.

He was Preceded in death by his siblings, Father Celestine Pfannenstiel, Herman ( Nellie) Pfannenstiel, Ignatius (Philomena) Pfannenstiel, Colletta (Gerard) Dreiling, Adelaide (Robert) Bell, Bertie (Frank) Leikam , and Clara (Irvin) Walters, Betty Lu Pfannenstiel and Richard Davidson.

The family would like to thank the staff of the nursing facility, Sweet Life of Brookdale, and of St. Luke’s Hospice, for their care, service and support during the last 30 days.

Funeral Mass will be 12:00 Noon, Friday, September 12, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hays, KS. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held Friday 5-8 PM and Saturday 9 AM – 9:30 AM at Brock’s – Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine St. A parish vigil will be 6 PM Thursday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Cure of Ars School, % Al Pfannenstiel, 9401 Mission Rd. Leawood, KS.  Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected].