Warren Junior Ficken

Warren Junior Ficken, 94, passed away January 21, 2018, in Hill City, Kansas. Warren was the oldest son of Elmer and Marie (Seuser) Ficken, born August 30, 1923 in Bison, Kansas. He attended Lonestar Country School District #64, Bison High School and two semesters at Fort Hays State College. When Warren was 21, he entered the military. Infantry training began at Camp Wolters, Texas. This was one of the many camps that was disorganized after World War II. He served from July 1944 to August 1946. Most of his military service was in the Pacific Theatre. Warren was part of the Battles of Leyte and Luzon in the Philippines and also Okinawa. He was a crew member on an amphibious tank and was also in the military police. After his honorable discharge, he became a lifetime member of Veterans’ of Foreign Wars Post #3147, LaCrosse, Kansas, and the American Legion Post #173 of Hays, Kansas. Upon returning home from the service, he helped his father with the farming. Warren began farming on his own in 1950 after his parents moved to Bison. He also operated a terracing business for several years. He retired and sold the farm in 1985 and moved to LaCrosse. He married his first wife, Albina (Alma) Jarmer, in1963. She died in 1992. Warren and Patricia Knipp were married in 1995 at Damar, Kansas, where they lived on a farm. It was common knowledge that when anyone wanted to visit with Warren, they went to his shop because that is where he would be. He had a love for old machinery and had restored several tractors. Warren was always busy. He was a member of the Bogue Community Methodist Church, a volunteer fireman for the Lonestar Township and also served as a board member. Warren was preceded in death by his parents; brother Dale Ficken; stepson Johnny Jarmer; daughter-in-law Donna Knipp; grandson Andrew Knipp and stillborn grandson Peyton Knipp. Survivors are his widow Patricia of the home; brother Don Ficken and wife Linda of Londonderry, New Hampshire; stepsons: Daniel Knipp, and wife Cindi, Francis Knipp, Douglas Knipp and wife Lori, Mark Knipp, and wife Ann, Rodney Knipp and girlfriend Patty Atkins, all of Damar, Kansas; step-daughters: Bonnie Reber of Independence, Missouri, Jeanice and husband Sidney Gosselin of Norton, Kansas, and Loretta Wright of Texas; 25 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; four great, great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.