Laverne Merklein

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. If attending services, masks are encouraged. 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.