Catherine Rose Hazen, 86, of Great Bend passed away at the Kansas Medical Center in Andover on Nov. 24 after a brief illness. Born on Jan. 31, 1926 in Ellsworth, she was the daughter of Henry Rudolph and Martha Lena (Herber) Nienke. She was united in marriage to Bernard “Buck” George Hazen on Aug. 16, 1944 at his parents’ home in Erie. He preceded her in death on Feb. 5, 2008. To this union two children were born, Kenneth Ray and Brenda Sue. The couple lived in Holyrood, Pratt, Russell, and St. John, prior to moving to Great Bend in 1981. She and her husband spent time touring the country on a motorcycle and RVing in Texas and Arizona. Catherine enjoyed bingo and dancing, and loved family gatherings and spending precious time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Catherine was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Great Bend, and also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary of Great Bend.   
Survivors include one son, Kenneth Ray Hazen and his wife Nancy, of Cunningham; one daughter, Brenda Sue Johnson, and her husband, Arlon R., of Great Bend; five grandchildren. and five great-grandchildren. Catherine was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Bernard “Buck” George Hazen; and one sister, Doris Wimmer.
Funeral services will be held at ­­­­10 a.m. on Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend, with Pastor James A. Strasen officiating.  Interment will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in rural Barton County. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Charter Funerals in Great Bend, and from 9 to 9:50 a.m. on Thursday at the church. A Service of Memories will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Trinity Lutheran Church or to the family.  Online condolences may be left and a full obituary notice may be viewed at http://www.charterfunerals.com/obituary/chgb.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Charter Funerals*
2115 Washington St.
Great Bend, KS  67530
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Nov. 27, 2012