Cletis G. Hammerschmidt

Cletis G. (Gilbert) Hammerschmidt, 96, Hays, died Monday, Oct. 10, 2016, at Via Christi Village, Hays.

She was born March 25, 1920, in Achille to Floyd and Harriet (Raber) Gilbert. She was a 1938 graduate of Decatur County Community High School and from Fort Hays State University in 1968 with a bachelor of science degree.

She married Ben Hammerschmidt on May 27, 1946, in Hays. He preceded her in death Dec. 20, 1985.

She began her teaching career in 1939 at White Dove School, a one-room school house in Rawlins County, and retired from Roosevelt Elementary School in Hays where she taught for 20 years. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, Hays Historical Society, Prairie Garden Club, Hays Arts Council and Fort Hays State University Alumni Association. She enjoyed gardening, traveling, playing bridge and spending time with family and friends.

Survivors include two sons, Ben Hammerschmidt and wife, Marge, Lincoln, Neb., and Thomas Hammerschmidt and wife, Virginia, Salina; a daughter, Kathlene Young and husband, Peter, Allen, Texas; a brother, Jay Gilbert, Colby; six grandchildren, Eric Hammerschmidt and Ann Burk, both of Lincoln, Jennefer Loiselle and husband, Todd, Novi, Mich., Bradley Hammerschmidt and wife, Jennifer, Brighton, Colo., Janie Allen and husband, Jon, Rochester, Minn., and Megan Davis and husband, Greg, Houston; 10 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, John Gilbert; a sister, Gly Shaw; and a great-grandchild, Jackson Treat Loiselle.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hays; burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday, both at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601. There will be an American Legion Auxiliary service, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, a VFW Auxiliary service at 5:45 p.m., a combined Daughters of Isabella and VFW Auxiliary rosary at 6 p.m., followed by a vigil at 6:30 p.m., all at the funeral chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Rectory Remodeling Project at St. Joseph Church or Cancer Council of Ellis County, in care of the funeral.

Hays Daily News, 10/12/2016