NORCATUR — Yvonne ‘Von’ Sumner, 73, of rural Norcatur, Kan. passed away on Aug. 28, 2026 at the Logan Manor after a graceful battle with dementia.
She was born April 25, 1953 in Great Bend, Kan. to Donald ‘Zip’ and Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Sanders Zimmerman. She grew up in Great Bend and would proudly tell everyone that she was the oldest of eight children. She attended Great Bend High School. On a blind date, she met Greg and they were married at St. Rose Catholic Church in Great Bend on Oct. 31, 1970. They made their home on the family farm north of Norcatur. She graduated from Norton Community High School with the class of 1972.
The city girl quickly adapted to farm life. She kept busy raising a huge garden, raising chickens with several of the neighbor ladies and even driving the tractor, helping with the endless farm work. She also loved hosting all the nieces and nephews who couldn’t wait to spend their summer breaks at Aunt Von’s!
After the kids were raised, her interest in quilting took center stage. Several days of the week were spent at the quilt shop with her fellow quilt chicks and one evening a week was devoted to her Stitch-N-Bitch crew! Many friends and family have been blessed with the beautiful quilts she made.
Although dementia stole her memories, the memories of Von shared with those who loved her will live forever in our hearts. There isn’t a family memory shared that doesn’t involve a fun and crazy story of her followed by a good laugh. Her large family was something she cherished, and they all held a special place in her heart.
Von is survived by her husband, Greg, of the home; children, Todd (Deanna) Sumner, Norcatur and Michelle (Ryan) Homolka, Ellsworth, Kan.; bonus children who were exchange students, Armin Glauner, Germany and Nina Brask, Denmark; grandchildren: Brooke (Jamie) Stagemeyer, Brady Sumner, Andrew (Courtney) Archer, Gracie Archer (Rhett Beals), Sumner Homolka, and Sophie Homolka; great grandchildren, Emery Archer and Sylas Stagemeyer; and siblings, Joe (Sara) Zimmerman, Great Bend, Kan., Denny (Stacy) Zimmerman, Fayetteville, Ark., and Linda (Mike) Johnson, Great Bend, Kan. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Amy Archer and her husband Mark; grandson, Brandon Sumner, and siblings, Debbie Branstetter, Donald ‘Beaver’ Zimmerman, Ronald ‘Roon’ Zimmerman, and Richard ‘Rick’ Zimmerman.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Norton. Burial will follow in the Norcatur Cemetery, Norcatur, Kan. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3 followed by a Wake and Rosary service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Logan Manor or St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and sent in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, 215 W. Main St., Norton, KS 67654. Condolences may be left at www.plumergobber.com
Our family would like to send a heartfelt thank you to the amazing staff at the Logan Manor. The love and grace you showed to our wife and mom never went unnoticed.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Plumer ~ Gobber Funeral Home
215 West Main St.
Norton, KS 67654
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Sept. 3, 2026
