Clarence C. Milke

Clarence C. Milke, 88, LaCrosse, formerly of Hays, died Monday, September 5, 2016 at the Rush County Memorial Hospital Long Term Care.

He was born January 15, 1928 in Gorham, Kansas the son of Joseph and Caroline (Rohleder) Milke.  On July 20, 1953 he married Vera Rose Jacobs in Antonino. She preceded him in death on August 21, 2008.  Early in their marriage they owned and operated the Texaco truck stop in Plainville.  You wouldn’t have met a man that worked harder.  He was an oilman his entire life.  He was a U.S. Army veteran during the Korean War, and was a member of the American Legion and VFW.  He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and a member of the Third Degree Knights of Columbus Council #6984.  He loved his family and grandchildren and loved the Catholic Church.

Survivors include his son; Rod Milke and wife Lori of Hays, a sister; Sister Gerry Milke of Concordia, KS, seven grandchildren; Zachary, Joseph, Sarah, Benjamin, and Matthew Milke, Emilie Eaton, and Jessica Beaver, and five great grandchildren; Beau, Presley, and Jordyn Eaton, Aria Milke, and Declan Scott.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Vera, a son; Joe Milke, two sisters; Mildred Hoff and Delores Dechant, and a brother; Francis Milke.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Friday, September 9, 2016 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine St.  Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 pm on Thursday and from 1:00 pm until service time on Friday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine St.  A parish vigil service will be at 6:30 pm with a Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:00, all on Thursday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to the Rush County Hospital Long Term Care, in care of the funeral home.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com