Obituaries - Friday, October 30
Verna Marie (Degenhardt) Schumacher
December 18, 1933 - October 28, 2026
Verna Marie Schumacher, 92, Hays, died Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at Via Christi Village.
She was born December 18, 1933, in Pfeifer, the daughter of Martin and Pauline (Leiker) Degenhardt. On April 24, 1950, she married Ralph J. Schumacher at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays. They were married nearly 60 years before he died on February 1, 2010.
Verna was a sales clerk at Midwest Drugs, worked at 7-Up Bottling Company and volunteered for 20 years at the Community Assistance Center. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and Daughters of Isabella Circle #254.
She enjoyed reading, Bingo, playing cards and crocheting, including making Barbie dresses for her daughters and granddaughters. She also tended roses.
Survivors include three sons, Ronald Schumacher of Hays, Larry Schumacher and wife Maryln of Lyons, and Dave Schumacher and wife Brenda of Plainville; four daughters, Diana Kohl and husband Ken of Ellis, Mary Karst and husband Tom of Hays, Rose Werth and husband Stan of Elk City, Oklahoma, and Claudine Richmeier and husband Mark of Hays; her sister Joyce Pfeifer of Hays; 15 grandchildren, Robert Kohl, Sandra Zordel, Suzanne Sprenkle, Ryan Schumacher, Amanda Henson, Gwen Kraushaar, Kira Bui, Kristina Oborny, TJ Karst, Josh Werth, Zach Werth, Luke Werth, Corey Richmeier, Tasha Eichman and Shelby Grieve; 35 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ralph; two brothers, Fr. Gervase Degenhardt and Martin Degenhardt, Jr.; four sisters, Viola Sack, Delores Herrman, Esther Burgardt and Veronica Ditto; and two grandchildren, Dustin Karst and Elizabeth Rose Werth.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, October 30, at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, with a Daughters of Isabella Rosary at 5:30 p.m. and a vigil service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 31, 2026, at St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, with Fr. Damian Richards officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Hospice of HaysMed, Catholic Charities, Cancer Council of Ellis County, or for masses.
Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home
