Alice Wagoner

September 23, 2020

Alice (Gassmann) Wagoner passed away at her home, in Hoxie, Kansas on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 surrounded by her loving family.  July 29, 1927, Alice was born to Joseph and Anna Marie (Richmeier) Gassmann on the family farm in Sheridan County, five miles northeast of Grinnell, Kansas.  She grew up on the farm with her brothers and sisters. She attended grade school at Harmony Country and Grinnell Elementary Schools, graduating from the Grinnell High School with the class of 1945. On August 5, 1946, Alice married Wilfred Wagoner at the St. Agnes Church in Grainfield, Kansas. In 1953, Wilfred, Alice and four of their children moved to Jennings, Kansas where they lived and raised their family of seven children.  In 2012, Alice moved to Hoxie, Kansas so she could be closer to her husband who was in the Long Term Care. He passed away on October 3, 2013. They were married for sixty-seven years.
Alice was a hardworking woman.  She was a homemaker, wife, and mother.  She was a great cook, grew a large garden, and canned the produce. She loved sports; her priorities included those that included any family members, and KU basketball.  One of Wilfred and Alice’s favorite things to do was to attend Polka Dances and lead wedding marches near and far.  Alice made quilts for every grandchild and was still doing cross-stitch. In 1963 Alice worked part time for Jerry and Fred Van Epp owners of the Jennings Journal as a typesetter and ran the Linotype machine.  In July of 1967, Alice and her partner, Norine Bailey bought the paper and owned and operated it until 1975 when they sold it to Richard Rippe.  Alice and Norine made the news because they were the first two women to be the sole owners and operators of a  newspaper. Following the sale of the newspaper, Alice worked at the Norton Duckwall’s Store for ten years. Alice was active in the Jennings American Legion Auxiliary and Sodality of both St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Leoville.  She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church until she moved to Hoxie.  Upon moving to Hoxie she became a member of the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church.  Alice was a very devout Christian and loved the Lord very much.  Her family was important to her. She would tell you, she had seven children, eighteen grandchildren, and oodles of great-grandchildren (41) and some great-great grandchildren (fourteen).  She loved them all dearly.
Alice is survived by her children, Carol Martin of Sharon Springs, Lois Heilman ( Bill) of Jennings, Shirley Fogarty of Sharon Springs, Robert Wagoner (Brenda) of Colby, Mary Shipley (Ron ) of Hoxie, Verlan Wagoner (Ronda) of Sharon Springs, and Kevin Wagoner (Colleen) of Sharon Springs; brother, Martin Gassmann of Oakley; sisters, Margaret Bruggeman of Wichita and Clementine Katt (Bernie) of Grainfield; eighteen Grandchildren; forty great-grandchildren; and fourteen great-great grandchildren; many   nieces and nephews; and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilfred Wagoner; parents Joseph and Anna Gassmann: brothers, Conrad Gassmann, Pius Gassmann, Julius Gassmann, Rupert Gassmann, Henry Gassmann, and Joseph Gassmann; sister, Agnes Bollig; son-in-law, Clifford Martin; and great-grandson, Teryn Haremza.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, September 21, 2020, 10:00 A.M., at the St, Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Hoxie, Kansas.  Following the service, was  a luncheon in the St. Frances Cabrini Church Social Hall.  Interment took place at the Kansas Veteran’s Cemetery in Wakeeney, Kansas at 2:00 P.M.   Visitation, Vigil Service and Rosary was Sunday, September 20, 2020; visitation from Noon until 7:00 P.M., Vigil Service and Rosary at 7:00 P.M. with family receiving friends from 5:30 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., all at the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home in Hoxie, Kansas.  Family suggests memorials to Sheridan County Benefit Walk, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church-Leoville Bazaar Fund, St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church Bazaar Fund, or Masses.