Arlene D. (Wellbrock) Pfeifer

Arlene D. Pfeifer

Arlene D. Pfeifer, 91, Victoria, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at the Main Street Manor in Russell. 

She was born March 27, 1932 in Vincent, Kansas to George and Wilhelmina (Roth) Wellbrock.  She graduated from Victoria High School in 1950 and briefly attended Marymount College.  Arlene married Albert R. Pfeifer in 1955 and raised a family of five children.  When her children were school-aged, Arlene returned to college, earning an education degree from Fort Hays State University in 1974.  She taught for 23 years in the Victoria School District, mostly as a kindergarten teacher.  She was a member of The Basilica of St. Fidelis, St. Fidelis Daughters of Isabella, St. Fidelis Christian Mothers, VFW Post #1751 Ladies Auxiliary, and in 2013, she was inducted into the Victoria High School Alumni Hall of Fame.  Her love for music and community involvement showed through her singing in the church choir and playing in the community band.  Arlene was dedicated to youth learning and development even outside the classroom.   She supported summer track and field programs, summer programs at FHSU, Christmas pageants at St. John’s Rest Home among others -- not just for her own children but for many, many others too. 

Survivors include her husband of the home, five children: David (Karen) Pfeifer of O’Fallon, IL, Tom (Kathy) Pfeifer of Hays, Annette (Russ) Lane of Gardner, Jeff (Amy) Pfeifer of Gardner, Tim (Karen) Pfeifer of Shawnee, three sisters: Gladys (Dale) Pfeifer of Victoria, Mary Mirkovich of Bainbridge Island, WA, and Rosann Welser of Bettendorf, IA, two sisters-in-law:  Marlene Wellbrock of Bainbridge Island, WA and Joan Wellbrock of Victoria, 17 grandchildren, Erik Prince, Janelle, Matt, Nick, Shelly, Cody, and Ashlyn Pfeifer, Tyler Lane, Jessica Knutson, Samantha Tiller, Abigail Hughes, Ezra, Blair, Robert, and Dan Pfeifer, Allison Larson, and Lucas Pfeifer, and 17 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, stepmother Mary Wellbrock, two brothers: Varian and Eugene Wellbrock, two brothers-in-law: Arthur Mirkovich and Hal Welser; and two grandchildren:  Eric Pfeifer and Kimber Lane.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Monday, May 8, 2023 at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, with Fr. James Moster, O.F.M. Cap. officiating.  Burial will follow in St. Ann Cemetery in Walker.  Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Sunday and from 9:00 am until service time on Monday, all at the Basilica.  A combined Daughters of Isabella, Christian Mothers, and VFW Ladies Auxiliary rosary will be at 6:00 pm followed by a vigil service at 6:30, all on Sunday at the Basilica.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Victoria VFW or to the Walker Cemetery Association.  Services are in the care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.  Condolences and memories of Arlene may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com

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