It is with great sadness that the family of Marina Munsch announces her passing, on November 16, 2020, at the age of 95 years. She will be forever missed by her family and friends.
Born to Peter and Christina (Herrman) Suppes in Liebenthal, Kansas on June 18, 1925, family and friends within the small community referred to her as “Dolly” as a child. She fondly recalled attending the community’s Catholic School and helping the local nuns with chores during her childhood. Subsequent to her parents’ grocery business and house burning down in separate accidents, the family moved to LaCrosse, Kansas. She graduated from LaCrosse High School in 1943 and entered the workforce. She exchanged vows with Edwin Munsch on May 19, 1947, at Saint John’s Catholic Church near Bazine, Kansas, and cherished their 60 years of marriage.
Marina is remembered for her work ethic. She held several jobs throughout her teenage years, including babysitting, newspaper delivery, handicap services, and selling popcorn at the LaCrosse Movie Theater. She proudly assisted with the war effort through her employment as a spot welder with the “Rosie the Riveter” women’s workforce in Wichita, Kansas. Following marriage, she helped with farm work and raised the couple’s five children. By 1964, all of the couple’s children were attending school and Marina applied for a job at the Ness County Hospital. She held continuous employment within the Ness County Hospital’s Laundry Department for 45 years, serving 42 years as Department Supervisor.
She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Christian Mothers. She held a lifetime American Legion Auxiliary membership. She enjoyed serving her community as a Eucharistic Minister, visiting individuals at the hospital and their homes. She loved her family, enthusiastically attending her children’s football and basketball games and spending all available opportunities with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an avid player of checkers, cards, and crossword puzzles.
She is survived by a son and three daughters, Mike Munsch and his wife Jean Munsch, Vicki Herrman and her husband Steve Herrman, Betty Knoll and her husband Don Knoll, and Christy Healzer and her husband Paul Healzer; daughter-in-law, Debbie Munsch; sister, Elsie Haberman; brother, Gilbert Suppes; thirteen grandchildren, David Munsch, Matt Munsch, Becky Newell, Todd Munsch, Addison Munsch, BJ Munsch, Amy Hayden, Tate Herrman, Stephanie Brown, Ashley Knoll, Sarah Sandbo, Stephen Healzer, and Mark Healzer; seventeen great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin Munsch; a son, Ronald Munsch; a baby grandson, Cody Munsch; parents, Peter and Christina Suppes; a baby sister, Edith Suppes; and two brothers, Arnold and Jerome Suppes.
Parish vigil and rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, November 20, 2020, with the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 21, 2020, officiated by Father Pascal Klein. Both events will occur at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 606 S. School St., Ness City, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Memorials to the Sacred Heart Cemetery Fund, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and Christ Pilot Me Hill, in care of the Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 207 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Ness City, Kansas.