Julius Albert Henning, age 95, of Ransom, Kansas, passed away at Cedar Village LTC at Ness City, KS, on November 22, 2021.
Julius was the son of Anthony “Pop” aka “Antone” Henning and Emma (Mertens) Henning of Willowdale, Kansas. He was the oldest of 7 children and was born on the family farm at Willowdale, Kansas, on August 25, 1926.
Julius married Melva “Rose” Weber of St. Leo, Kansas, on November 23, 1948, at St. Leo, Kansas. To this union were born seven children: LeRoy, Donna, Kenny, Carol, Joe, Terry, and Jim.
Julius is survived by his children: Donna and husband Delbert Bollig, of WaKeeney, Kansas; Kenny and wife Traci of Hillsboro, Kansas; Carol Nemechek of WaKeeney, Kansas; Daughter-in-Law, Joby Henning of Ness City, Kansas, and Jim and wife Tami of Kingman, KS. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren; 39 great-grand-children; and 2 step grandchildren. Left to mourn are also his siblings Leonard Henning, Vera Henning (wife of Bob Henning), Joan Schwartz, Eugene “Gene” Henning, and DeeDee Elsen and husband Jerome.
Julius was preceded in death by his wife Rose on 03-26-2001, his infant son, LeRoy, on 05-13-48; his son, Joe, on 01-20-00., his son Terry on 07-14-13; his grandson, Jonathan Henning on 08-17-12; and his son-in-law Richard Nemechek on 11-13-2020. He was, also, preceded in death by his parents, Antone and Emma Henning; his brothers, Robert “Bob” Henning and Anthony “Junior” Henning, Jr.; his sisters-in-law Rosie Henning, Wanda Henning, and Barbara Henning; and his brother-in law Rheinard “Rhiney” Schwartz.
Julius was a devoted husband and father. His whole life was centered around his wife, Rose; their children; and their family farm.
Julius & Rose moved to Ransom, Kansas, in May, 1948. Julius had to learn a whole new way of farming in Western Kansas. His plowing days from Eastern Kansas would not work at all in Trego County, Kansas. Julius and Rose were made out of some tough stuff, or they would not have survived the floods, the droughts, the hail, and the tornado that destroyed all but their house on 05-07-55. With two small children and a new baby on the way, they put their heads down and started in cleaning up the horrible destruction that the tornado left behind. Not only did they lose most of their farmstead and their car that day, but their wheat was also hailed out by that storm.
Julius was a lifetime farmer. It was in his blood. He loved tilling the soil and planting the crops. He was always out in the field digging in the drill furrow to see if the wheat was sprouting and going to make it out of the ground. He loved his cattle, too. He took extra good care of his livestock and was always making sure that they had plenty to eat and lots of water to drink. He was still feeding rounds bales to his cattle by himself until February 10, 2021, when a bad winter storm hit the area.
Julius was a man of great faith. He and Rose took their family to church every Sunday and every Holy Day. If something happened that the family could not attend church services, the family did not go anyplace else that day either. Julius was always very thankful for any blessings that God sent his way. In later years when he could no longer do a lot of walking, he would drive up to the St. Aloysius Church in Ransom and park his car in front of the church and say his prayers of Thanksgiving for his wheat check, his cattle check, etc. Julius was a Knights of Columbus Lifetime Member. He served on the St. Aloysius Church Committee for many years and also served as an usher for the church for many, many years.
Julius was an avid pheasant hunter, deer hunter, and fisherman. He and his Dad and brothers would rather fish and hunt than eat. Their family visits to see each other were always centered around their hunting and fishing activities. When they got tired and it was too dark to hunt or fish, they would play five-point pitch. They would play for a dime a game and a nickle a set, and the competition was fierce. Those were some “wild” and “noisy” games. When they were tired of playing pitch, they would all enjoy a good game of dominoes. All of these characteristics were passed down to the sons of these men.
Because of an abundance of concern caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic, a private family service will be held at St. Aloysius Catholic Church at Ransom, Kansas, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 27, 2021. Julius’s burial will be at the St. Aloysius Cemetery in Ransom.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to masses for Julius or donations to a worthy cause to be determined by the family at a later date.