Patricia “Pat” Ann Gabel, age 76, passed away at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas on August 24, 2014.

She was born May 14, 1938 in Ness County, the daughter of Fred and Alice Pember Burdett.

She was a member of Christian Mothers Altar Society. She worked at Farm Credit in Ness City for many years until her retirement.

In 1956 she married George Thomas. He preceded her in death in 1959. On October 7, 1961, she married Gene Gabel. He preceded her in death December 25, 2013.

She is survived by sons, Joe (Susan) Gabel, La Crosse, Todd (Lisa) Gabel, Hays; daughters, Tammy (Eric) Seib, Ness City, Tara (Toby) Witthuhn, Garden City; sister, Myra Stout; grandchildren, Chad Reinert, Tyson Reinert, Caitlin Gabel, Jessica Gabel, Jared Gabel, Taylor Gabel, Tyler Witthuhn; great-grandchildren, Bryce and Jase Reinert.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; son, Kerby Thomas; and brothers, Richard F. and James Burdett.

Viewing will be Tuesday, August 26, 2014, 9 A.M. – 9 P.M. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home in Ness City, and Wednesday, August 27, 9 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

Rosary will be Wednesday, August 27, 6:30 P.M. with Vigil at 7:00 P.M. at Sacred Heart Church, Ness City.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, August 28, 2014, 11:00 A.M., at Sacred Heart Church.

Memorial contributions may be given to Ness County Historical Bank Building Foundation.

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

Eva Helen Williams departed this life April 2, 2014 at Hays Medical Center, Hays Ks.

She was born Dec. 10, 1916 in rural Trego County, Ks, to Jacob and Katharina (Kerth) Armbruster.

She married Harvey L Hillman on Feb 7, 1937 at Christ Lutheran Church in Ellis, Ks. He preceded her in death on Mar 11, 1975. She married Howard R Williams on Aug 9, 1980 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in WaKeeney. She attended Pleasant Ridge Grammar School, Ellis High School, and graduated from Trego Community High School in 1935.

She worked for JC Penney in WaKeeney, and as the cook for Ogallah Grade School. She sold Beeline Clothing out of her home and was the Trego County Register of Deeds for 18 years, retiring in 1978.

She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Bethlehem Daughters and helped start the Golden Age Prayer Circle. She was a member of the YMP Club, Cedar Bluff Campers, and the hospital auxiliaries of Hadley Hospital in Hays, Ks and Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital in WaKeeney, Ks.

Eva loved to take care of her entire family and attended as many of their events as possible. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her pride and joy. She loved dancing, camping with Harvey and traveling to see new sites with Howard. One of her favorite holidays was Halloween; Eva greatly delighted in donning costumes and creating good natured mischief with family and friends. She especially loved cooking. She couldn’t wait to test new recipes to share with all who came to visit. Her monkey bread was a favorite treat of those lucky enough to receive the gift of food from her. While living at the Senior Apartments, she gifted every resident with a cake on their birthday each year.

Survivors include:

Two daughters: Peggy McNeal-Margheim (Les), Russell, Ks and Nancy Dietz (Raydene), Estes Park, Co; stepson Richard Williams (Joan) Weatherford Tx.

Grandchildren: Stacy Myers, Gladstone Mo, Lyle McNeal Jr (Linda) Pleasant Valley Mo, LaTisha Connelly (Jarrod) North Platte Ne and Kodi Clark (Adam) Littleton Co.

Step Grandchildren: Charles Cox Denver Co, Bob (Tae) Williams Westworth, Tx and Joanne (David)Roblez Weatherford Tx.

Great- Grandchildren: Alyssa McNeal, Austin McNeal, Drew Connelly, Hayley Clark, Craig Sweitzer, and Erika Yates.

Sisters: Martha Mai, Wichita Ks, and Loretta Wilson Mankato, Ks; Sisters-in-law: Joyce Hillman, Russell, Ks and Bessie Williams, Washington, Ks; and a host of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by husbands Harvey and Howard; brothers Christ Armbruster, Ernest Armbruster, and Fritz Armbruster; sisters Jennie Claycamp, Carrie Armbruster, Edna Weber and Viola “O’Lee” Moden; step-daughter Karen Cernik and step-granddaughter Celinda Yates.

A family hosted celebration of Eva’s life will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, August 30, 2014 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, WaKeeney KS with inurnment to follow at the WaKeeney City Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or Trego County Long Term Care.

Condolences can be sent to the family in care of the Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney KS, or by guest book at www.schmittfuneral.com.

Rural Agra resident Ora “Buck” Elliott Jr. passed away Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014 at the Prairie Haven Rest Home in Kensington, KS, at the age of 87.

He is survived by three sons: David, of Phillipsburg, KS, and Eldon and Terry, both of Kensington, KS; five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and three brothers: Ron, of Overland Park, KS, Glen, of Salina, KS, and Cecil, of Pamona, KS.

The family chose cremation.

Services are pending with Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, KS.

Phillipsburg resident Amy L. Kastle passed away Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, at Phillips County Hospital in Phillipsburg, KS, at the age of 92.

She was born March 25, 1922, in Phillips County, the daughter of Robert William & Carrie Melinda (Zoller) Busby. Her husband, Robert, and sons, Richard and Larry, preceded her in death.

Survivors include her sons, Mike of Parsons, KS and Rick of Windsor, CO; daughter, Cindy Kee of Sandwich, IL; daughters-in-law, Cheryl (Kastle) Fenton of Berthoud, CO and Melanie Elliott of Kensington, KS; brother, Bob Busby of Hutchinson, KS; 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 1:00 p.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel,
Phillipsburg, with Pastor Joel Hiesterman officiating. Burial will follow in the Bogart Cemetery, Phillips County, KS.

Visitation will be Monday from 5-9 p.m. and Tuesday from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Phillips County Food Pantry or Hospice Services. Online condolences may be sent to www.olliffboeve.com.

Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, is in charge of arrangements.

James Laverne “Jim” Gordon, age 81, passed away Monday, August 18, 2014, at Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital, in WaKeeney. He was born November 14, 1932, in WaKeeney, to Marvin and Elsie (Campbell) Gordon. He was a lifelong area resident.

Jim attended Trego Community Schools and went on to serve our country in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. He served from 1951 to 1956, and was assigned to the USS Wadleigh. On July 28, 1968, Jim was united in marriage to Shirley Meyer. They enjoyed 46 years of marriage together. He worked for Kansas Department of Transportation as a highway worker for twenty five years. He retired in 1995.

Jim was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, VFW Post 3449 and Eagles Lodge 3774. He enjoyed a good game of pitch or pinochle with friends and family. He also looked forward to the occasional fishing trip.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley; a son David of Victor, New York; a grandson Alex of Lancaster, Pennsylvania; a step-daughter Brenda Hensley of Coallatin, Missouri; two sisters Betty Vines of Seagoville, Texas and Marjorie McAdams of Dallas, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Jamie, and two brothers Roy Lee and Wayne.

A memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 27, 2014, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church of WaKeeney. Burial with military honors will be at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery.

Memorial contributions are suggested to FHSU Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions, or Trego Hospital Endowment Foundation. Checks made directly to these organizations 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.

Mass of Christian Burial for former Sherman County, Kansas, resident Alfred G. Bollig, 88, will be held Wednesday, August 27 at 10:00 AM MT at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Goodland, Kansas.

Burial will be at Goodland Cemetery.

Friends may share respects Tuesday from 5:00–6:30 PM Mountain Time at Koons Chapel in Goodland.

Vigil and Rosary will be Tuesday at 6:30 PM Mountain Time at Koons Chapel in Goodland.

Memorials are suggested to Genesis and may be left at the services or mailed to 1121 College Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Arrangements are entrusted to Koons Funeral Home in Goodland.

Online condolences and guest register can be viewed at www.koonsfuneralhome.com.

Mass of Christian Burial for lifelong Logan County and Wallace County  resident Norbert “Norb” Bussen, 91, will be held Tuesday, August 26   10:00 AM Central at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Oakley

Burial will be at Wallace Cemetery.

Friends may share respects Monday 4:30–6:30 PM Mountain at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Sharon Springs.

Vigil & Rosary will be Monday 6:30 PM Mountain at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Sharon Springs.

Memorials for the Norb Bussen Memorial may be left at the services or mailed to Koons Funeral Home, 211 North Main, Goodland, KS 67735-1555.

Online condolences and guest register can be seen at www.koonsfuneralhome.com.

Flora Mae “Mates” (Koerner) Swim, age 87, of West Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on August 16, 2014, to be with her savior and Lord, where the streets are paved with gold and all are healthy and made new again, at Mercy Hospice – Johnston, Johnston, Iowa.  She was born November 23, 1926, in Hays, KS to John A. and Josephine (Leiker) Koerner. She graduated from Hays High School.  She married Blaine Swim on June 24, 1947 in Hays, KS.

She was a homemaker and mother.  She was a member of Sacred Heart Parish.  During her life, she lived in Hays, KS, Great Bend, KS, St. Louis, MO, Omaha, NE and Colorado Springs, CO prior to moving to West Des Moines, IA in January 2013.  She enjoyed the outdoors, traveling, reading, and most of all, her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She was an avid Denver Broncos fan.  She was active in her church and enjoyed playing chicken dominos and bunko with her friends and possessed a wonderful sense of humor.  She enjoyed being the family caretaker.

She is survived by her three sons, Terry Swim and wife Sharon of Des Moines, IA, Mike Swim and wife Christine of Centerville, SD,; and Mark Swim and wife Cathy of Houston, TX; a brother, Donald “Pete” Koerner of Arvada, CO; and, six grandchildren (Lisa Kay, Roxanne, Jeremy, Jeff, Jared, and Chad); and six great grandchildren (Isabelle, Connor, Garret, Rose, Kirsten, and Emma) also survive her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Blaine Swim, her parents, a brother, Ralph “Whitey” Koerner, a sister, Mildred Maska and a grandson, Ryan Joseph Swim.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM, Saturday, August 23, 2104 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays. Inurnment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.

Family will receive guests at the church on Saturday 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM followed by a rosary service at 10:30 AM.

Arrangements in care of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601. Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected]

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to either Above and Beyond Cancer, 300 Walnut Street, #148, Des Moines, Ia 50309 or Mercy Hospice – Johnston, 5820 Winwood Drive, Johnston, Ia.