Joseph W. "Joe" Pfeifer

Joseph W. “Joe” Pfeifer

Joseph W. “Joe” Pfeifer, 87, Hays, died Friday, August 13, 2021 at Via Christi Village.

He was born December 3, 1933 in Liebenthal, the son of Alexander and Mary (Doerfler) Pfeifer.  He attended Liebenthal Grade School and graduated from Schoenchen High School in 1953.  In 1955, he was drafted to play baseball for the Philadelphia Athletics.  He attended spring training before being drafted into the U.S. Army and serving from 1956 until 1962.  While stationed in Germany, he played baseball and pitched for the Crusaders.  On May 23, 1955 he was united in marriage to Helen M. Fisher at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Antonino, and they celebrated 66 years of marriage.  He was an electrical maintenance foreman for Central Kansas Power/Midwest Energy for 40 years, retiring in 1994.  His memberships included Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, the VFW Post #9076, and Joe and Helen coordinated and helped serve church funeral dinners at Immaculate Heart of Mary for many years.  Joe was an avid baseball fan, pitching for the Ban Johnson League in Hays, attending Hays Larks games, and attending home and away Hays High School, TMP-Marian High School and Fort Hays State University games.  He loved watching and traveling to his grandchildren’s games and enjoyed watching the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs.

Survivors include his wife Helen of Hays, two sons: Terry Pfeifer and wife Donnetta of Hays and Troy Pfeifer and wife Dee of Green River, Wyoming, a daughter: Jolene Schaeffer of Hays, six grandchildren: Joel Pfeifer and wife Ashley of Olathe, Jordan Schaeffer and wife Sarah of Hays, Jason Pfeifer and wife Renee of Hays, Jill Mall and husband Tucker of Hays, Danisha Olson and husband Jon of Casper, WY, and Michael Pfeifer of Green River, WY, 12 great-grandchildren: Jameson and Bryant Pfeifer, Noah, Tyler, and Maci Schaeffer, Rylan and Jackson Pfeifer, Damien Pfeifer, Harper Olson, Sperry, Tracer, and Kimber Mall, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Celly and Jerry Pfeifer, five sisters: Florence Matel, Caroline Steckline, Armella Schmidt, Marie Schwartz, and Eleanora Schmidt, a son-in-law: Robert Schaeffer, and a grandson: Jeremy Deitz.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, with Fr. Nick Parker officiating.  Burial with military honors by the Hays VFW Honor Guard will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Tuesday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Wednesday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.  A vigil service and rosary will be at 6:00 pm on Tuesday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.  Condolences and memories of Joe may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com

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