Kay E. Casner

Kay E. (Pekarek) Casner passed away Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at the Rooks County Health center in Plainville, Kansas at the age of 72. She was born on December 8, 1943 in Herington, Kansas to the late Gordon and Florine (Schlegel) Pekarek. As a child she grew up and attended school in Ellis, Claflin, Byers, and Offerle, Kansas before graduating from Elkhart High School in Elkhart, Kansas with the Class of 1962. From there she went on to graduate, as an English major, from Panhandle Agricultural and Mechanical College in Goodwell, Oklahoma in 1967. She taught school for a few years in Colby, Kansas before working as a financial manager for St. Anthony Hospital in Denver, Colorado for over 30 years. On September 18, 1981 Kay was united in marriage to Walter Casner in a log cabin in Fraser, Colorado. Together, they loved to travel, especially in the RV. During their time in Colorado, annual trips were taken to scenic Moab, Utah for weeks at a time in order to enjoy camping and 4-wheeling. After retiring, Rockport, Texas, became a favorite hangout for 3 to 4 months each year, where she enjoyed watching the cargo ships coming in and out of the busy Port Aransas shipping lanes. Another of her favorite destinations was the beautiful islands of Hawaii. She was an avid reader and could enjoy a good book for hours at a time, as well as being a huge fan of Italian classical tenor Andrea Bocelli. Kay is survived by her husband Walter Casner of their home in Stockton; brothers Rodney Pekarek of Summerville, FL, and John Pekarek and wife Ann of Atlanta, GA; and sister Paula Pollart and husband Jerry of Castle Rock, CO. She was preceded in death by her parents Gordon and Florine Pekarek. Kay was a unique woman of refined taste who loved having fun and didn’t mind getting a little muddy in the process. She had a huge heart, full of love, and lived to serve others more than herself. Her life, her love, and her legacy will live in our hearts forever. Funeral Services are planned for 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Stockton with burial to follow in Stockton Cemetery. Visitation will be on Monday from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Humane Society-High Plains of Hays and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. First, Stockton, Kansas 67669. Condolences may be left for the family at www.plumeroverlease.com