Louis Wintholz, 83, passed from this world to join his beloved wife Phyllis, in heaven on May 22, 2015, at Great Bend Regional Hospital. He was born Jan. 30, 1932, in Collyer, the son of Reinholdt “Ray” and Mary (Windholz) Wintholz. He attended school in Collyer and graduated from the Hays Cadets Academy in 1950. He married Phyllis Montgomery on May 8, 1954, at Hearndon. She passed away on Feb. 15, 2008.
Louie and Phyllis ran the Collyer gas station then worked in the oilfield industry in the Hays and Kimball, Neb., area for six years, then made a career change to Northwest Oxygen Co., where he was a truck driver. The company sold to the Jimmie Jones Co., where he was promoted to office manager. He became an independent customer service tech for First Care Home Health Service and The Medical Park Home Health Co., until he retired in 2005.
Louie was a member of Prince of Peace Parish, Great Bend. He was a talented welder, mechanic and could fix anything his children or grandchildren came to him with. He enjoyed gardening and loved sharing his produce with family, friends and neighbors. He will be remembered for his sense of humor and his many acts of kindness to his oxygen customers.
Survivors include two daughters and four sons, their spouses and many grand and great-grandchildren: Becky and Glen Sander, Debbie Farmer, Bradley and Joni Wintholz, Mark Wintholz, Mike and Kelly Wintholz, and Adam Wintholz all of Great Bend; grandchildren: Andrea, Joseph, Blaize and Brecken Babb , Mathew and Sara Sander, Nick and Andrea Farmer all of Wichita; Brandon, Abby, Aniston and Lily Foster, Aaron and Kim Hollister, all of Overland Park; Amy, Charlie, Paige, Ellie and Maci Lamb, Tyler, Elizabeth, Tatum, Jordan, and Cameron Sander, Heidi, Cole, Kassidy, Kylie, Keaton and Karson Wintholz and Brint Galvan, all of Great Bend; and Stoughton Wintholz of Salina; one brother, Jim (Linda) Wintholz of Sydney, Neb.; one sister, Thelma Rowson, of Salina; brothers and sisters-in-law Carolyn and Vernon Leiker, of Gardner, Darlene Grover, of  Madison, Wis., Jeanette Synder, of La Crosse, Judy and Jim Niles of Bonner Springs, Bill and Lila Montgomery, Dale and Kathy Montgomery, Tom and Ellen Montgomery of Hays, and Steve and Lavana Neptune of Great Bend.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Phyllis, son-in-law, Jerry Farmer, and an infant grandson Robbie Shanks.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 30, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Great Bend. Father Don Bedore will celebrate. Inurnment will follow in Great Bend Cemetery North. Cremation has taken place, there will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Meals on Wheels. The family requests no flowers. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home**
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS 67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, May 24, 2015