HOISINGTON — Vernon John Riemann, 99, died May 11, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society, Ellsworth Village. He was born Aug. 3, 1926, in Claflin, Kan., the son of John D. and Mary (Markel) Riemann. He served in the 501st Parachute Infantry Battalion during WWII and was proud of his experience as a gliderman, who were the soldiers who rode without parachutes in engineless aircraft landing silently behind enemy lines to seize objectives.
On May 26, 1951, he married Verna J. Pejsha in Dallas, Texas. She preceded him in death on Nov, 9, 2017.
A farmer and cultivator of the land, he took great pride in his sheep often earning many top awards at the county fair. He was also a renowned gunsmith, and reloading expert, and was a competent handyman that could tackle about any job. Vernon was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene, Hoisington, Kan. and had formerly served on the school board in Claflin. Always quick with a quip or retort, Vernon made friends wherever he went. Even upon entering the Assisted Living at the Good Samaritan Society in Ellsworth, he quickly became like family to those that helped care for him.
He is survived by a son-in-law, Dale Kunz of Mt. Sterling, Kent.; his family of the heart, Curtis and Kathy Hitschmann, and Don and Rhonda Fisher all of Hoisington; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, a daughter; Michelle Kunz; brothers, Floyd and Harold Reimann; and a sister, Elva Brinson.
Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 15, 2026, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, with Pastor Don Fisher presiding. Burial will follow in Hoisington Cemetery with military honors.
Memorials may be made to First Church of the Nazarene, Beaver Fire Department, or Claflin EMS in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, P.O. Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544. Notices may be viewed and condolences sent at www.nicholsonrickefh.net.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home
P.O. Box 146
Hoisington, KS 67544
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, May 14, 2026
