Albert J. Ketter

Albert Joseph Ketter, 96, of Marysville died on Friday, May 24, 2013 in Marysville, KS. Visitation was Tuesday, May 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Kinsley Mortuary in Marysville. A rosary service was held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church in Marysville. Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 29 at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church. Fr. Jim Shaughnessy officiated. Delores Bruna played the organ while Ron and Fran Grauer accompanied by the Church Choir sang “Be Not Afraid”, “On Eagles Wings”, “I Am The Bread of Life”, “How Great Thou Art”, “Song of Farewell” and “Shall We Gather at the River”. The pallbearers were Albert’s grandsons, Roderick Rose, Jerrod Rose, Michael Clingan, Eric Ketter, Chad Ketter, Cody Ketter and honorary pallbearer, Derrick Ketter. Burial was in St. Gregory’s Catholic Cemetery. Albert Ketter was born on April 3, 1917 at Kelly, Kansas, the son of Henry and Adelaide (Huerter) Ketter. Albert graduated with honors from St. Bede’s Parish School, Kelly, Kansas in 1932. Albert enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps and served in Seneca, Kansas from 1936-1937. In 1937 Albert was relocated to the Marysville CCC Camp and served until his discharge in 1939. While serving in Marysville he met the love of his life, Alice Marie vonArx, whom he later married. Albert’s interest in agriculture took him to the Pine Tree Dairy Farm in McHenry, Illinois where he worked until being drafted during WWII. Albert was a Corporal in the U.S. Army from 1941-1945. He was first stationed at Camp Robinson Arkansas and later served as a medical technician at Finney General Hospital in Thomasville, Georgia. Alice joined Albert in Thomasville where they wed on October 30, 1943. After the war ended, Albert and Alice returned to Kansas, where they began their lifetime of farming near Winifred. Albert participated in the Veteran’s “On the Farm Training Program” from 1950-1953. Albert practiced and appreciated organic farming and preserving nature. He was one of the original charter members of the National Farmers Organization. He was a member of St. Gregory’s Parish and a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a lifetime member of the American Legion and belonged to the American Saddlebred Horse Association. Albert’s passion was training and showing his American Saddlebred horses. Over the years his horses were awarded many trophies and honors. His other hobbies included playing and watching baseball, fishing, woodworking, planting trees and gardening, with a special knack for growing watermelons and sweet potatoes. In 1998, Albert and Alice moved to their home in Marysville. Albert enjoyed his friends at the Helvering Center, especially when playing cards and checkers. Albert is survived by seven children, Ralph (Jane) Ketter of La Luz, NM; Janet (Raymond) Rose of Frankfort KS; Karen (Terry) Hughes of Marysville, KS; Mary (Thomas) Nowak of Salina, KS; DeAnn (Steve) Clingan of River Ridge, LA; Gena Ketter of Washington, KS; Larry (Kathy) Ketter of Home, KS; brother Gerard Ketter of Sabetha, KS; sisters Elizabeth Mrazek of Rock Island, IL and Catherine Foster of Tulsa, OK; fourteen grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren. Albert was preceded in death by his wife Alice on March 18, 2006; his parents; brothers Anthony, George, Francis, Wilfrid, Elmer and Vincent; a sister Margaret Enneking; son Kenneth Lee Ketter; granddaughter Deborah (Rose) Deters and great-grandchildren Travis Deters, Houston Ketter, Sydney Clingan and Abigail Phillips. A memorial fund has been established and will be designated at a later date. Contributions may be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary, Marysville. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Albert J. Ketter, please visit our flower store.