Leo Kenneth 'Ken' Herman, 94, Hays, died Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at his home.
He was born April 3, 1931 in Spearville, the son of Leo Carl and Helen Edna (Laudick) Herman. Ken graduated from Spearville High School in 1949. Ken served in the U.S Navy from 1950-1954 during the Korean War, and was stationed in Guam for two years, transported troops for two years, and made 24 trips to Japan, Korea, and Guam. He attended Dodge City Junior College and graduated from Salt City Business College in Hutchinson. While studying at Salt City he met Shirley Dufield and they were united in marriage on September 13, 1957 in Spearville. They celebrated 68 years of marriage.
Ken began working as a bookkeeper for Dick B. Evans in Great Bend and in 1959, he and Shirley moved to Hays as Ken started a long career with Farmers Co-op, now Midland Marketing Co-op, where he was their bookkeeper, office manager, and manager, retiring in 1993. From 1983-1992, Ken was elected to serve as the director of Farmland Industries, and he also served on the Commerce Bank Board of Directors. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, the St. Joseph Third Degree Knights of Columbus Council #1325, and the Hays VFW Post #9076.
Ken enjoyed visiting with his friends, helping around the house, and traveling all around the world. He loved his family and was continually strengthening his faith in God through daily Bible readings.
Survivors include his wife Shirley of Hays, his son Keith Herman of Fort Worth, TX, two daughters, Linda Coyle of Arlington, TX and Debbie Keohan and husband Tom of Parker, Colorado, one brother, David Herman of Wichita, two sisters, Mary Lou Scheve of Kinsley and Janice Askew of Dodge City, four grandchildren, Lauren Coyle, Madison Coyle, Andrew Keohan, and Grant Keohan, a great grandson, Beckham, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Lori Ann Herman, two sisters Polly Nightingale and Cleo Mae Stegman, and four brothers-in-law, Dick Nightingale, Gene Stegman, Lawrence Scheve, and Dwayne Askew.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with Fr. Fred Gatschet officiating. Burial with military honors by the Hays VFW Post #9076 Honor Guard will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Tuesday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Wednesday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A vigil service will be at 6:00 pm followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary, both on Tuesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Heritage Foundation, or to the Wounded Warrior Project. Condolences and memories of Ken may be left for his family at www.haysmemorial.com