Kenneth Dean Ummel, 88, died May 5, 2019, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas. He was born October 15, 1930, on the farm by Arnold, Kansas, the son of Henry and Catherine (Sargent) Ummel. He graduated from Arnold High School in 1948, and attended one year at Kansas State University, and then went on the National Railroad School in Omaha, Nebraska, for two years. He then worked for the Rock Island Railroad for a year before moving to Hoisington to work for the Missouri Pacific Railroad for a year. He was then drafted in the Marine Corp in 1952 and served for 2 years as a Corporal during the Korean War. Returning to Hoisington to the MoPac in 1954 to the same job. Kenny was employed by the Missouri Pacific Railroad later to be known as the Union Pacific and retired in 1989 after 37 years.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church, the V.F.W., American Legion, Elks Lodge, Masonic Lodge, and the Marine Corp Reserves. Kenny loved a good game of golf and playing cards.
On March 27, 1981, he married Beth L. Humphrey Demel in Hutchinson.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Beth L. Ummel of the home; son, Gary D. Ummel of Kansas City, Missouri; step daughter, Denise Schreiber and husband Bob of Hoisington; brothers, Don Ummel of Des Moines, Iowa, and Marvin Ummel of Lady Lake, Florida; sisters, Mildred Fink and Eunice Ummel, both of Salina; grandchildren, William Demel of Otis, and Shani Stout and husband Kyle of Hoisington; and three great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, stepson, Craig Demel, brother, Ralph Ummel, and sisters, Evelyn Clark, Dorothy Bell, and Phyllis Flaherty.
Friends may call noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, with Reverend Seong Lee presiding. Burial will follow in Hoisington Cemetery with military honors by the Marine Corps Honor Guard.
Memorials may be made to the Clara Barton Hospital Foundation or Kans for Kids in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.
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