ELLINWOOD — Bernita K. (Urban) Schloemer-Clair, 83, passed away April 27, 2015, at Ellinwood District Hospital. Born on Dec. 27, 1931, in Rush County, she was the daughter of Wendelin and Rosemary (Leiker) Urban. In 1949, she graduated from La Crosse High School. On June 20, 1954, she married Millard Schloemer in Great Bend. He died Feb. 22, 1982. She later married Ural G. (Jack) Clair in Ellinwood, on Dec. 7, 1990. She worked as a secretary for  USD 403 in Bison and as an operator at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in La Crosse.
Mrs. Schloemer-Clair was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Altar Society, Twilight Quilting Guild, Ellinwood Hospital Auxiliary, Sunflower Polka Club, and was a Cub Scout leader.
Survivors include her husband, Jack Clair, of the home; son, Mark Schloemer (Faith) of Bison; three stepsons, Gary Clair (Jean) of Great Bend, Larry Clair (Debbie Tammen) of Ellinwood, and Kevin Clair (Gina) of Ellinwood; stepdaughter Janice Birzer (Steve) of Ellinwood; brother Norbert Urban (Elsie) of La Crosse; four sisters, Edna Giebler (Kenneth) of Hays, Luceda Hager of Lyons, Doris Armstrong of Springfield, Mo., and Charlene Kreutzer (Robert) of Great Bend; sister-in-law Mary Ann Urban of La Crosse; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and seven step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Justin Urban; sister, Alice Heeps; and brothers-in-law, Johnny Hager and Arlin Armstrong.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 1 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ellinwood with Fr. John Forkuoh presiding. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. at the La Crosse City Cemetery with Fr. Matthew Kumi presiding. Visitation will be from 1-7 p.m. on Thursday at Minnis Chapel in Ellinwood with family present from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday. The Altar society rosary will be at 3 p.m. followed by a vigil service at 7 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association or the Ellinwood EMS in care of the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Minnis Chapel*
P.O. Box 246; 113 N. Main
Ellinwood, KS 67526
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 29, 2015