CLAFLIN — Joseph ”Joe L.” Kaiser, 98, died Nov. 12 at the Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was born Feb. 6, 1916, on the farm in Claflin, the son of Lawrence and Louisa (Fonscher) Kaiser. Joe was a farmer and a stockman.
He was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus Council #2630, both of Odin, and the Holy Name Society at Dubuque, Kan.
On Aug. 30, 1938, he married Regina Marie Debes in Odin. They then moved to Dubuque, and  lived there until returning to Claflin in 1962. She died Dec. 13, 2005.
Survivors include six children, Corrine Finger of Hoisington, Marvin Kaiser and wife Bernice of Hays, Gilbert Kaiser and wife Kathy of Kingman, Ronald Kaiser and wife Lucille of Hoisington, Jolene Rziha and husband Jim of Great  Bend, and Marilyn Ricke of Hoisington; twelve grandchildren, Paula Beck and husband Andy, Brian Kaiser and wife Lynne, Chris Kaiser, Roger Kaiser and wife Katrina, Eric Kaiser, Lori Hogle and husband Jason, Andy Kaiser, Brad Kaiser, Troy Kaiser and wife Susan, Dale Kaiser and wife Sonja, Gina Dodd and husband Casey and Mona Dodd and  husband Major Chad Dodd USMC; and 27 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife and parents; four brothers, Walter, Fred, Larry and Leo Kaiser; five sisters, Mary Wondra, Lena Gerstenkorn, Anna Kaiser and two infant sisters, Olivia and Virginia Kaiser; and two sons-in-law, Ted Ricke and Larry Finger.
Vigil service with Knights of Columbus Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Holy Family Catholic Church in Odin with Fathers Ted Stecklein and Pascal Klein, celebrants. Burial will be in Holy Family Cemetery, Odin. Friends may call from 1-8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials are requested to Claflin Ambulance Service, Holy Family Statue Repair or Father Don Debes OFM Cap. Mission Fund, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home
415 N. Main, P.O. Box 146
Hoisington, KS 67544
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Nov. 14, 2014