Eleanor Julia Spiess
Eleanor Julia Spiess, Hays, age 87, passed away Wednesday evening Aug. 27 at St. John's Rest Home in Victoria. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and Christian. A lovely and gentle life-time resident of Ellis County, she was born on March 18, 1921 in Ellis to Frank and Mary (Turek) Neuburger, lived for a short time in Minnesota as a child, and returned to Ellis. Her father farmed and helped run an Ellis bakery. She married Ambrose Pfeifer in 1943 as he left for service in World War II. He died in service to his country in 1944. Eleanor then made her home in Ellis with daughter Sharon, until she married John L. Spiess in 1951. Their son, Jerome was born in 1953. John and Eleanor gratefully shared 41 years of married life together until he passed away in 1992. They were devoted parents, grandparents, and long-time members of St. Joseph's Parish.
Eleanor kept busy as a homemaker and later worked at Wiesner's Department Store. She was active in the Daughters of Isabella, St Joseph's Parish Altar Society, a Eucharistic Minister, an Affiliate Member of the Sisters of St. Joseph's, and a Gold Star Widow of World War II. She was an excellent seamstress, an avid gardener and loved growing flowers.
She is survived by daughter, Sharon Cohoon of Huntington Beach, CA; a son, Jerome of Hays; daughter, Carol Weigel of Lawrence; and sons, Joseph of Overland Park and Jim of Wichita; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, John C. Spiess, two brothers, William (World War II) and Frank, She will be greatly missed by all her family, relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M. Saturday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Hays. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday 5:00 - 8:00 and Saturday 9:00 - 9:30. The Franciscan 3rd Order will have a wake service at 5:45, A Daughters of Isabella rosary service will be at 6:30 followed by a parish vigil service at 7:00 all at Brock's North Hill Chapel, 2509 Vine, Hays.
Memorial Contributions are suggested for St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Condolences may be sent to the family at bnhc@ruraltel.net
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