Josita "Jo" (Rohleder) Pfannenstiel

Josita “Jo” Pfannenstiel

Josita “Jo” Pfannenstiel, 83, Hays, died Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at the Hays Medical Center.

She was born October 6, 1933 on the family farm near Codell, Kansas, the daughter of Nick and Philomena (Dreiling) Rohleder.   She graduated from Girls Catholic High School in 1952.  On August 4, 1952 she married Arthur “Art” Pfannenstiel in Emmeram, Kansas.  He preceded her in death on March 3, 2014.  She worked at the Tempo store for seven years, at K-Mart for 14 years, and was in the Custodial Department at Fort Hays State University for eleven years.  She was a former 4-H leader, and was a Foster Grandparent for many years in the Head Start program.  She was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Munjor, the Christian Mothers of Munjor, and the Daughters of Isabella in Hays.  She enjoyed baking and was known for her delicious Christmas cookies.  She loved having grandchildren out at the farm and spending time with them.

Survivors include three sons; Tom Pfannenstiel and wife Danielle of St. Paul, MN, Doug Pfannenstiel and wife Cathy and Dan Pfannenstiel and wife Michele, all of Hays, a daughter Gloria Pfannenstiel of Hays, a daughter-in-law Sue Pfannenstiel of Apple Valley, MN, a brother Val Rohleder and wife Tina of Abilene, a sister; Rita Wolf of Hays, six grandchildren; Melissa Pfannenstiel and husband Markus Anderson, John Pfannenstiel, Taylor Pfannenstiel, Kylee Pfannenstiel, Rachel Pfannenstiel, and Barry Baumfalk and wife Dr. Ramona Baumfalk, four great grandchildren; Sydney, Bryant, Brenyn, and Kennedy Baumfalk, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Art, a brother Ron Rohleder, three sisters; Petronella Graf, Theresa VonLintel, and Mary Jane Polifka, and a brother-in-law; Jerry Wolf.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Friday, December 2, 2016 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Munjor, Kansas.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 4:00 pm until 8:00 on Thursday and from 9:00 am until 9:30 on Friday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street.  A combined Daughters of Isabella and Christian Mothers rosary will be at 6:00 followed by a parish vigil service at 6:30, both on Thursday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to the St. Francis Cemetery fund or to donor’s choice, in care of the funeral home.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com