Obituary

Charles A. Koerner, 68, Newton, died Sunday, September 28, 2003 at Newton Mmedical Center from complications resulting from an auto accident that occurred in December of 2002. He was born December 9, 1934 in Newton, son of A. C. and Hazel F. Hickerson Koerner. He was raised at Newton and graduated from Newton High School with the class of 1952.

He served with the National Buard and its Reserves for several years. He was a farmer stockman, southeast of Newton. Over the years, he had been involved with organizing the board of McLains Grain, he was a board member of the Darlington Township for 30 years, the Harvey County Rural Water Board, Circle 8 Square Dance Club and Harvey County Rural Life, a former Harvey County 4-H leader and a past member of the Harvey County Fair Board.

He married JoEllen McGinn on June 9, 1956 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Halstead.

Survivors: wife of the home; two sons, Stephen Koerner, Rural Newton and Joel Koerner and wife, Debbie, rural Newton; two daughters, Charlene Vierthaler and her husband, Dan, Newton and Marie Ashcraft and her husband, Shawn, rural Newton; three sisters, Kathleem Perkins, Newton; Joan Rice, Wichita and Sandra Stahly, Newton; 8 grandchidren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Alice Bumgartner.

Services were held October 4 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Newton. Burial followed at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.