Helen M. Pfeifer, 93, Hays, died Thursday, May 14, 2026 at HaysMed surrounded by her loving family.
She was born April 16, 1933 in rural Ellis County, one of eight children to Clements and Pauline (Stubert) Fisher. She attended the one room Star School in Ellis County and was united in marriage to Joseph W. “Joe” Pfeifer on May 23, 1955 at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Antonino, celebrating 66 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on August 13, 2021.
Throughout her life Helen excelled at numerous jobs including cooking at Wiest Hall on the campus of FHSU, personnel manager at K-Mart from 1976-1994, manager at Dollar General, and working in the kitchen at Hays Good Samaritan Society, retiring at the age of 82. Helen and Joe were avid Kansas City Royals and Chiefs fans, enjoyed both watching and taking their children to games. As a woman of devout Catholic faith, she was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, faithfully prayed the Rosary, and for many years was the Funeral Dinner Committee coordinator. Helen’s family assisted her in cooking and serving numerous funeral and wedding dinners in addition to many church events and baseball team fundraisers for Hays High School, FHSU, and the Hays Larks.
Helen was a servant of the Lord, generously using her gifts and talents to bless others. She enjoyed baking beautiful wedding cakes, embroidery, sewing handmade blankets for each of her grandchildren, and dearly loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren who were the light of her life.
Survivors include her sons Terry Pfeifer and wife Donnetta of Hays and Troy Pfeifer and wife Dee of Green River, WY, her daughter Jolene Schaeffer of Hays, six grandchildren Joel Pfeifer (Ashley) of Olathe, Jordan Schaeffer (Sarah) of Hays, Jason Pfeifer (Renee) of Hays, Jill Mall (Tucker) of Hays, Danisha Olson (Jon) of Casper, WY, and Michael Pfeifer (Monica) of Green River, WY, 13 great-grandchildren: Jameson and Bryant Pfeifer, Noah, Tyler, and Maci Schaeffer, Rylan and Jackson Pfeifer, Damien Pfeifer (Neveah), Harper Olson, Sperry, Tracer, Kimber, and Grady Mall, her great-great grandson Boden who is soon to be born, three sisters-in-law Freda Fisher of Ellis, Donna Fisher of Marysville, and Joyce Pfeifer of Hays, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Joe, her son-in-law Robert “Bob” Schaeffer, grandson Jeremy Dietz, five brothers Alfred, Edwin, Wilfred, Clarence, and Robert Fisher, and two sisters Irene and Esther Bieker.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with Fr. Brian McCaffrey officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Monday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Tuesday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A vigil service and Rosary will be at 6:00 pm on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, and condolences and memories of Helen may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com