Edwin A. Pfannenstiel, 91, Hays, died on Monday, May 20, 2019 at Hays Medical Center.

He was born on August 21, 1927 in Munjor, Kansas one of eleven children to Nick J. and Anna (Wasinger) Pfannenstiel. He was a graduate of Hays High School and attended the University of Denver. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and the Korean conflict. He retired from the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Post Office. He married Isabel J. Kuhl on July 17, 1950 in Wilmont, Minnesota. He was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, was active in the Volga German Men’s Choir, and was a cantor at the church for many years.

Survivors include his wife, of the home, two sons; Dave Pfannenstiel of Hays and Paul Pfannenstiel and wife Tally of Kansas City, MO, two daughters; Loraine Pfannenstiel and Mary Poulson and husband Tom, all of Lakewood, CO, daughter-in-law; Gayle Pfannenstiel of Wakeeney, KS, a sister; Sr. Loraine Pfannenstiel, CSA, Fon du Lac, WI, eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, Mark; five brothers, Alphonse, Albinus, Aloys, Alfred, and Celestine, and four sisters, Adelina Pfannenstiel, Susan Rohr, Mary Rohr, and Bertha Binder.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Hays, with Fr. Barry Brinkman officiating. Burial with military honors by the Hays VFW Post #9076 Honor Guard will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm until 8:00 on Wednesday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Thursday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A parish vigil service and rosary will begin at 6:30 pm on Wednesday at the funeral home.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested for masses or to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, in care of the funeral home. Condolences and memories of Ed may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Monday, May 4th, 1936 – Friday, May 17th, 2019

An obituary is pending with Baalmann Mortuary.

Click HERE for service details.

ax Hacker, age 75, of WaKeeney, passed away March 15, 2019.

Memorial service will be Thursday, May 30, 2019 at Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, memorial contributions may be made to 4-H Shooting Sports, Trego Recreation Commission, or Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Donations to the fund may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Visitation will be Wednesday evening from 5 to 7 at the funeral home.

A complete obituary is pending.

Hubert Holzmeister, age 93, of Quinter, passed away Sunday, May 19, 2019, at Gove County Medical Center Long Term Care, Quinter.

Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter. Please check back for full obituary.

Marion LaVerne Johnson, “Mr. J.,” son of the late Harold L. and Mary C. (Ming) Johnson, died May 17, 2019, at age 83.

Marion was born on Dec. 30, 1935, in Aurora, and he was confirmed at the Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Mankato. He and his brother grew up in the Miltonvale, Scottsville, Ionia and Lovewell communities, and he graduated from Lovewell High School in 1954.

Marion was a 35-year educator and coach at junior and senior high schools across north-central Kansas, with 20 years in Belleville, where he taught dozens of students the craftsmanship of woodworking. With his students, he stressed attention to detail, and their projects, from grandfather clocks to hope chests to cabinetry, are keepsakes in homes across the region.

He also taught industrial arts and coached sports at Culver, Montrose, Republic,  Haddam, Courtland, Osborne and Belleville. One of his girls’ basketball teams at Haddam once had a winning streak. His parents and his younger brother, Eugene, taught and coached while farming in western Republic, eastern Jewell and southeastern Cloud counties.

He was teaching at Montrose High School when he met Kathyrn Lynn “Kathy” Konovalsky. They married on July 24, 1960, at Ada Lutheran Church, southeast of Courtland, near Kackley. To this union two sons were born: Bryan and Whitney.

Marion graduated from Fairbury (Neb.) Junior College and McPherson College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in industrial education. He earned a Master’s Degree from Fort Hays State University.

Marion was a member of the Belleville Masonic Lodge No. 129 A.F. & A.M.; the North Central Kansas Shrine Club; the Isis Shrine Temple, of Salina; the Elks Lodge, of Superior, Neb.; and the Order of the Eastern Star. He served as Exalted Ruler of the Belleville Elks for two years, and he was a 50-year member of three clubs: the Masons, the Isis Shrine and the Eastern Star. Marion supported his wife, Kathy, as she served five years in Eastern Star state positions and advanced to the office of Worthy Grand Matron.

His hobbies were working in his woodworking shop, gardening and attending any and all activities of his granddaughters. His tomato garden treated many Belleville residents, including those at Golden Bell Haven senior center.

Marion will be forever remembered by his wife, Kathyrn Johnson, Belleville; sons Bryan Johnson (Roger Aguirre), Ensenada, Mexico, and Whit (Shelley) Johnson of Belleville; granddaughters Kayley Johnson of Minot, North Dakota, and Kendsey Johnson of Belleville; brother Eugene (Joy) Johnson of St. Joseph, Missouri and many other relatives and a host of friends.

O.E.S. services by Ophal Chapter 115 and the Grand Family were held Monday, May 20th at 7:00 p.m., following the family visitation. Marion’s Service of Remembrance was held Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at 11:00 a.m., at the Belleville American Lutheran Church. Masonic service following the service were conducted by Belleville Lodge No. 129 A.F. & A. M. In accordance to the wishes of Mr. J., cremation followed his service. A family inurnment will be in the Belleville City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes memorial contributions in honor of Mr. J. to be made to the Isis Temple Travel Unit or the Belleville American Lutheran Church, and can be sent in care of the funeral home. Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, Belleville, Kansas is honored to assist Mr. J’s family with these arrangements.

Hester Folkner, 89, formerly of Downs, passed away May 15, 2019.

She was born in Mandrin, Tennessee to Della (Hubbard) and John Williford on December 29, 1929. She married Bill Folkner, October 18, 1956.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill in 2007, brothers, Hubert Williford and Benji Williford and sister, Sue Whalen.

She is survived by daughter, June (Charles ) Fischer of Esbon, grandson James Folkner of Dahlgren, Virginia, two great grandsons, brothers LaVern Williford, William Williford, Benny Williford and sister Joyce Grogan.

Graveside services will be held at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Concordia Kansas Monday, May, 20, 2019 at 10:30 am. No visitation. Memorials may be given to Belleville Health Care Center in care of Domoney Funeral Home at PO Box 127 Downs, Kansas 67437.

Herschel Benton Betts passed away on May 15, 2019 at The Willow House Assisted Living in Hays, Kansas at the age of 92. He was born in Norcatur, Kansas on November 15, 1926, to Jacob and Loretta (Belt) Betts.

At the age of nine his family moved to Oberlin as his father was with the First National Bank which later became Decatur County National Bank. As a child Herschel remembered attending the dedication of Sappa State Park with his family and was pleased upon his return to Oberlin in 1968 to be a part of the project to build the Oberlin Country Club Golf Course in that area. He graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1945, served in the U.S. Army, and attended Fort Hays State College where he played football for four years and earned degrees in physical education and business. He later attended the University of Northern Colorado and completed a master’s degree in school administration.

Following his marriage to Marion Joan Bremer on August 17, 1949, Herschel coached football, track, and taught accounting at Coldwater and Ulysses, and at Concordia from 1956 to 1968. He then served as high school principal at Oberlin from 1968-1981. After retiring, he and Marion continued to make their home in Oberlin and on the farm near Dresden before moving to Cedar View Assisted Living in Hays in 2015.

Herschel was a member of the Oberlin Rotary for almost 50 years serving as District 5670 Governor from 1986-1987. He was also a member of the Oberlin United Methodist Church, Fort Hays University Alumni Association, and was a Decatur County Commissioner. Herschel and Marion enjoyed attending Rotary conventions and traveling to other continents and visiting family members.

Herschel is survived by his wife Marion; sons, Gene Betts and wife Jan of Austin, TX and J. Rod Betts and wife Lisa Kay of La Jolla, CA; daughter, Susan McMonagle and husband Charles of Bellingham, WA; six grandchildren: Anne (Mike) Schmidt and Mary Kate (Kyle) Juliff of Austin, Michael Betts of Denver, Casey Kay Betts of Houston, Christine (Adam) Ohlson of London, England, and Wes (Brianna) McMonagle of Sacramento, CA; six great-grandchildren: Mary and Henry Schmidt, Maddison, Ryan and Brett McMonagle, and Emily Ohlson; three nieces: Jan Ray of Palm Desert, CA, Jody Westby of Washington D.C., and Debbie Lohoefener of Oberlin; nephew, Greg (Mary Jo) Lohoefener of Kansas City; and cousin, Anne (Gene) Sullivan of Newport Beach, CA.

He is preceded in death by his parents; grandparents, Samuel & Eliza (Andekmann) Betts and Bailey and Mary Belt; brother, James; sister, Phyllis (Ray) Lohoefener; nephew, Kim Betts; and aunts and uncles.

A memorial service will be held Monday, May 20, 2019 at 2:00 pm at the United Methodist Church in Oberlin. Inurnment will follow at the Oberlin Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Oberlin Country Club Golf Course, Oberlin United Methodist Church, Oberlin Library, Fort Hays University Foundation, or Oberlin Cemetery (Memorial Tree Project) and may be sent in care of Pauls Funeral Home, 121 N. Penn Ave, Oberlin, KS 67749. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.paulsfh.com

Roy E. Herrman, 80, Hays, died Friday, May 17, 2019 at the Hays Good Samaritan Society.

He was born October 24, 1938 in Liebenthal the son of Reinhold and Josephine (Kuhn) Herrman. He was a graduate of St. Joseph Military Academy and earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Fort Hays State University. On February 6, 1965 he was united in marriage to Hilda Mader at the Army Post Chapel in Wertheim, Germany. They celebrated 54 years of marriage.

He was a United States Army veteran, retiring after 21 years of service. He served in Vietnam and earned a Purple Heart. Roy was a Certified Government Accountant (CGA) and auditor for the Department of Defense. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, enjoyed listening to country music, and watching westerns and old-time movies.

Survivors include his wife; Hilda of Hays, two daughters; Renee Vine of Hays and Cheryl Shubert of Hays, two brothers; Lester Herrman and wife Brenda of Hays and Leon Herrman and wife Debbie of Colorado Springs, CO, three sisters; Carol Danielson of Great Bend, Doris Winslow of Hays, and Linda Mayberry and husband Jim of Great Bend, five grandchildren; Alan Vine of Hays, Sara Totten and husband Tom of Hays, Shannon Shubert of Emporia, Abigail Shubert of Hays, and Allison Shubert of Hays, two great-grandsons; Leon Staab of Hays and Lucious “Luke” Doxey of Hays, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son; Mark, an infant great-grandson; Andrew Wesley Totten, five brothers; Elmer, Cyril, Frank, Donny, and J.R. Herrman, and a sister; Edna Rohr.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Fred Gatschet officiating. Inurnment with military honors by the Fort Riley U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division funeral detail, Hays VFW Post No. 9076 Honor Guard, and American Legion Riders Post No. 173 will follow at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery in WaKeeney. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm until 8:00 on Monday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Tuesday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A combined vigil service and rosary will be at 7:00 pm on Monday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Church or for masses. Condolences and memories of Roy may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Robert E. Hammersmith, age 89, of Gorham, Kansas died Friday, May 17, 2019, at Wesley Medical Center Wichita, Kansas.

Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, June 8 , 2019 at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601. A full obit will follow later. Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be send via e-mail to [email protected]