Jacqueline Susan 'Jackie Sue' Hertel, age 72, of Hays, Kansas, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Hays. She was born on May 2, 1952, in Hays to Gerald and Hedwig (Leikam) Allen.
Jackie worked for Travenol in Hays and then Dillons, where she worked as a checker and then in the bakery department before retiring. She enjoyed cooking, quilting and gardening in her spare time. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hays
Family had always meant the most to Jackie. No matter what, family came first. Even in the final parts of her life as she was managing a liver disease, all it took to get a smile on an otherwise gloomy day was a picture of a grandchild or her hearing of a recent grandchild's accomplishment. She always did what she could to try and be a part of their lives without hesitation or regret
She is survived by her sons, Fredrick Hertel of Kansas City, KS, Patrick Hertel (Angela Pruett) of Hays, Steven Hertel of Independence, Missouri and Matthew Hertel of Washington, D.C.; two brothers, Stanley Allen (Karen) of Hays and Robert Allen (Sam) of Colonial Heights, VA; a sister, Rosa Lee (Allen) Mewhinney of Hays; and her grandchildren, Alyssa (Hertel) Gafner (Chase), CJ Hertel, Annie Hertel, Colton Hertel and Westen Hertel
Jackie was preceded in death by her mother, a son, Curtis Hertel, and a brother, Phillip Allen.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, April 26th, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 215 W. 13th, Hays. Inurnment will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery in Hays. A funeral reception will take place following inurnment at VFW Post 9076. All are welcome
Memorial visitation will be on Friday at Keithley Funeral Homes-Brock’s Chapel with a combined parish vigil and rosary service at 7:00 PM.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Humane Society of the High Plains (https://hshponline.org/donate/) or the Leukemia Research Foundation in memory of Curtis Hertel (https://leukemiarf.org/donate/).
Please share memories on Jackie’s tribute page at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com
Services under the direction of Keithley Funeral Homes and Crematory-Brock’s Chapel, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601