Carolyn "Carol" (Gerstner) Klaus

Carolyn “Carol” Klaus, 93, Hays, passed away Monday, April 4, 2022 at Via Christi Village.

She was born October 29, 1928 on the family farm near St. Peter, Kansas the daughter of Jacob J. and Marcianna (Rohleder) Gerstner.  She attended school in Collyer up until her junior year of high school and graduated from Hays High School in 1947.  On October 18, 1947 she was united in marriage to Wilfred Klaus in Pittsburg. 

She had numerous jobs within the community at: Singer Sewing Company, J.M. McDonalds Department Store, St. Joseph’s Family Credit Union, and several banks, until she landed her dream job at Edward Jones.  After almost two decades, Carolyn retired as a limited partner of the firm.  She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and the Daughters of Isabella.  She was very active in her church and community teaching sewing classes to 4-H children, an instructor for CCD/PSR classes at IHM, a member of American Business Women, President and Treasurer for the VFW Auxiliary, a member of American Legion Auxiliary, and volunteering for the Friends of the Library and IHM funeral dinner committee.   When she wasn’t volunteering, she doted over her seven grandchildren as often as she could.  She loved to bake, sew, embroider, as well as garden, especially her blackberries.

She is survived by a son: Mark Klaus and wife Karen of O’Fallon, MO, two daughters: Donna Harkness of Wichita, KS and Jean Pfeifer and husband John of Lawrence, KS, a brother: Rudy Gerstner and wife Pam of Sun City, AZ, a sister-in-law: Sandra Gerstner of Scott City, KS, three granddaughters: Chelsea McKay and husband Grant of Berglenn, Germany, Shannon Klaus of Sunnyvale, CA, and Erica Rule and husband Zach of O’Fallon, MO,  four grandsons: Jacob Pfeifer and wife Emily of Bentonville, AR, Clayton Pfeifer of Manhattan, KS, and Reed Pfeifer and Jack Pfeifer, both of Lawrence, KS, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wilfred in 2008, a son Arthur in 1969, and a son-in-law Charlie Harkness in 2014, as well as six brothers and six sisters.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with Fr. Gale Hammerschmidt officiating.  Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Friday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Saturday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.  A combined Daughters of Isabella and VFW Auxiliary rosary will be at 5:30 pm followed by a vigil service at 6:30, both on Friday at the funeral home.   Memorials are suggested in memory of Carolyn to: Immaculate Heart of Mary building fund, TMP-Marian High School, or to St. John’s Chapel at Via Christi.  Condolences and memories of Carolyn may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carolyn "Carol" (Gerstner) Klaus, please visit our floral store.