CLAFLIN — Stephen F. Demel, 86, died Oct. 22 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. Born Dec. 26, 1927, he was the son of Joseph and Mary (Lamatsch) Demel. On April 23, 1957, he married Dolores A. Jenisch in Odin. A lifelong resident of Barton County, he was a farmer.
Mr. Demel served during the Korean war as a PFC with the 216th Division of the Army from 1950 to 1952. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus.
Survivors include his wife, Dolores A. Demel, of the home; four sons, Roy Demel and wife Gracie, Daniel Demel and wife Darlene, Darryl Demel and wife Brandi, and Randy Demel, all of Claflin; one daughter, Bonita Demel of Farmington, Mo.; one sister, Irene Mattas of Wilson; nine grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by seven sisters, Margaret Neuschafer, Viola Axman, Marie Gerritzen, Ann Wondra, Eleanor Fiedler, Theresa Demel and Mathilda Schneider; and four brothers, Edward Demel, August Demel, Jerome Demel and Clarence Demel.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 27 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Odin with Father Ted Stoecklein officiating. Burial will be at the Holy Family Cemetery in Odin. Visitation will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, with a rosary at 7 p.m., at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Holy Family Catholic Church, Clara Barton Hospital Foundation or the Claflin Ambulance, 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*
P.O. Box 146; 415 N. Main
Hoisington, KS  67544
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Oct. 24, 2014