Sue Lang, 87, Hays, died Monday, May 4, 2026 at Via Christi Village, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born August 5, 1938 in Hays, one of three daughters to Edward and Armina (Wasinger) Tholen. Sue graduated from Victoria High School in 1956, was a daycare provider for over 40 years, and on December 27, 1958 she was united in marriage to Marvin D. “Spank” Lang at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Vincent, Kansas. Spank preceded her in death on April 7, 2020.
Sue was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays, the Daughters of Isabella Circle #254, and the American Legion Auxiliary. Family was everything to Sue and she enjoyed attending all of her children’s and grandchildren’s events and ball games, and helping her husband with American Legion activities. Sue also loved flowers and her beloved dogs Tillie and Honcho.
Survivors include two sons, Gary Lang (Cristina) and Larry Lang (Lori), all of Charlotte, North Carolina, four daughters, Marva Willhoft (Joel) and Joyce Mattison (Andy), all of Hays, and Sharon Szurpicki (Paul) and Jodie Kerr (Rusty), all of Wichita, two sisters Gloria Windholz (Norb) of Hays, and Clare Stallings (Phil) of Newton, eighteen grandchildren Brent Mattison (Coley), Brad Mattison (Megan), Brady Mattison (Paula), Lindsay Mattison, Tanner Willhoft, Molly Paul (Gage), Jared Willhoft (Kristina), Ben Szurpicki, Kate Szurpicki, Kyle Szurpicki, Alyssa Kerr, Brandon Kerr, Jack Kerr, Katherine Lang, Anna Lang, Kalie Schmitt (Tyler), Brett Lang, and Addison Britt (Taylor), and eleven great grandchildren Dylan, Adley, Coraline, Whitney, Macks, Fuller, Palmer, Brooks, Lottie, Harper, and Kollyns.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Monday, May 11, 2026 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Fred Gatschet officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 5:00 pm until 7:00 and on Monday from 9:00 am until 9:45, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A Daughters of Isabella Rosary will be at 5:30 pm followed by a vigil service at 6:30, both on Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic Church for the Capitol Campaign, the HaysMed Foundation, or to the Humane Society of the High Plains. Condolences and memories of Sue may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com