ARCHIVE

  • Last modified 3048 days ago (Nov. 24, 2015)

MORE

IN MEMORIAM:   Warren Fike

Warren D. Fike passed away on Nov.21, 2015.

He was born on Nov. 10, 1925, to Floyd Hostetter and LaVinnie Alice (nee Applegate) Fike at their farmhouse one and three-quarter miles west of Ramona, Kansas. In 1938, they moved to the Joseph Fike homestead one mile west and one-quarter mile south of Ramona.

He attended grade and high school at Ramona, and graduated with the Ramona Rural High School class of 1943. He played basketball and ran track, and also played trumpet in the high school band.

Following his 18th birthday in 1943, he volunteered for the U.S. Navy and served overseas in both Pacific and Atlantic theatres. He entered service in May 1944 and was honorably discharged in 1946, when he returned home and began farming with his father Floyd and uncle, Kenneth Fike.

On July 4, 1946, he met Paula Mueller at a picnic in Hope, Kansas that honored returning veterans of WW II. They were married Dec. 28, 1949 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Tampa, Kansas.

Warren and Paula began their married life on two different rented farms near Ramona. In the fall of 1954, after Floyd’s death, they moved onto the home place where he and Paula farmed and raised their children. Seven children were born to their union: Linda, Sandra, Carla, Glenda, Gary, Dennis, and Sara.

Warren was first and foremost a farmer. He took great pride in caring for the soil, the appearance of his crops and fields, and the farmstead. He also held several other part time or seasonal jobs to keep things together to support their growing family, especially in the early years of he and Paula’s married life.

He worked as a section hand on the Rock Island Railroad for a time; worked winters at Tatge Manufacturing in Herington, and was a substitute rural mail carrier for many years.

He got his own mail route at Wakefield, Kansas in 1983, and retired from the postal service in 1986. He also sold Farm Bureau hail insurance for over 30 years and was one of the top salesmen in his region.

Warren served the community and county in many ways. He was a member of Ramona and Centre school boards when the Centre school district was consolidated in 1958.

He also was on the Marion County Extension Executive Board; was a member of the ASCS (now FSA) committee for Marion County several years; was a member of the Tampa State Bank board; the VFW; and belonged to the Moffitt-Crandall American Legion Post, where he was recently presented with his 70-year member pin. He also was a very active member of Tampa Lions Club.

In later years, he retired from active farming and the postal route. He and Paula traveled extensively, and enjoyed many trips to places all over the U.S. They also attended many Navy reunions.

Warren and Paula lived on the farm the rest of their married lives, celebrating 65 years of marriage in 2014.

Paula moved to Medicalodges in January 2015 due to declining health, and she passed away May 2, 2015. Shortly after, Warren fell into declining health and moved into Parkside Homes in Hillsboro, where he remained until his death.

In addition to Paula, he was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Inez Peterson; and one granddaughter, Shelby Deines Linahan.

He is survived by five daughters, Linda (Dan) Peterson of Burdick, Sandra (Steve) Deines of Pierce City, Missouri, Carla (Stacey) Collett of Marion, Glenda (Mike) Jirak of Glade, and Sara Eells of Topeka; two sons, Gary (Karol) Fike of Westmoreland, and Dennis (Lou Ann) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; 17 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. He also is survived by one brother, Duane and his wife Ruthita of Golden, Colorado, and dozens of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24 at Carlson-Becker Funeral Home in Hope. The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ramona, with the Reverend Clark Davis officiating. Interment will be at Lewis Cemetery, Ramona.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Harry Hynes Hospice, or Parkside Homes Assisted Living. Memorials may be dropped off or mailed to Carlson-Becker Funeral Home, 106 N. Second St., Hope KS 67451. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.martinbeckercarlson.com.

Last modified Nov. 24, 2015

 

X

BACK TO TOP