Laverne Mae Merklein, age 80, passed away on September 7, 2020, at Hays
Medical Center in Hays, KS. She was born on December 4, 1939, in Norton,
KS, to Ernest H. and Mathilda (Tillie) M. (Vogel) Grau.
Laverne was baptized in infancy and confirmed in the faith on June
28, 1953, at Zion Lutheran Church, Phillipsburg, KS. She graduated from
Phillipsburg High School in 1957 and attended Brown Mackie College in
Salina, KS. She married Richard C. Merklein on November 16, 1958, at
Zion Lutheran Church. They had three children: Dale, Dwight and Sally.
She spent most of her adult life living in Stockton and the last two
years residing at Hays Good Samaritan Society where she was well taken
care of and loved.
Laverne worked at Farmers State Bank in Stuttgart, Rooks County
Nursing Home in Plainville, and retired as a dietary aide at the Solomon
Valley Manor in Stockton. When her children were growing up she was
involved in their activities as a Cub and Boy Scout den mother, a Girl
Scout leader, and she taught Sunday school at the Methodist church.
When Laverne was in her 40's she learned to drive. After she retired
she drove anywhere she wanted whether to visit Dwight in Wyoming, to
Phillipsburg to visit relatives, or just for ice cream at The Chicken
Inn. She even drove by herself to Canada taking different routes to
visit friends and relatives and to see the country.
Another of Laverne's favorite pastimes was writing letters to
friends and pen pals. It didn't matter who the person was, if they wrote
back a friendship soon started. Even after she could no longer write
she loved receiving a note or card.
Preceding Laverne in death are her parents and husband Richard on December 30, 2002.
Survivors include sons, Dale Merklein and wife Lisa of Salina, and
Dwight Merklein and wife Zita of Thermopolis, WY; daughter, Sally Pywell
and husband Mark of Burdett, KS; siblings, Delwin Grau and wife Lorine
of Littleton, CO, Melvin Grau and wife Grace and Leanna Driggs and
husband Doug, all of Phillipsburg; sister-in-law Betty Zillinger and
aunt Norma Preuss both of Stuttgart; grandson Lane Pywell of Wichita;
and several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 10, 2020, at
10:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Phillipsburg. Burial will follow
in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Rural Phillips County. Visitation will be
held on Wednesday 3:00-8:00 p.m. at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in
Stockton with the family receiving friends 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Zion Lutheran Church or Hays
Good Samaritan Society and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease
Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.