Kenneth Francis Hammes, 80, of Seneca, Kansas, passed away on November 15, 2022, at his home in Seneca, with his family by his side.

Kenneth was born on February 2, 1942, to Lawrence & Cora Stallbaumer Hammes at Axtell Hospital in Axtell, Kansas. He was the 10^th of 12 children. Kenneth graduated from Baileyville High School in 1960. After graduation, he joined the Army National Guard and upon completion of active duty he returned to work on the family farm and helped his father with his custom corn shelling business.

Kenneth served in the Army National Guard, Battery “A”, 2^nd Howser Battalion, 130^th Artillery, from 1960 until he was honorably discharged in 1967.

On November 7, 1962, he married his high school sweetheart, Alice Kuckelman, at St. Bridget Church in St. Bridget, Kansas. They celebrated 60 years of marriage with their family on November 12. They lived on their farm south of Baileyville until moving to Seneca in January 2007. He was a grain farmer and also raised livestock. Kenneth loved farming the land along with his wife, Alice, and later farmed with his son, Brad, from 2007 until retirement.

Kenneth’s favorite pastimes were golfing, computers, family trees and field mapping.  He purchased one of the first personal computers available. In 1980, he worked with his brother, Leo, to design and build one of the first electronic acre counters available to farmers. In retirement, he enjoyed joining his friends each morning for coffee at the local McDonald’s.

Kenneth was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville, Kansas. He served on the Parish Council Finance Committee.  He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus in Seneca and then Baileyville since 1960.  Kenneth served on the B&B USD 451 School Board from 1981 to 1993 and as Board President for two terms from 1986 to 1988.  He was instrumental in many improvements at B&B, including designing the new gymnasium.  Kenneth also served on the Center Township Board for one term.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his son, Roger on March 22, 1987, his grandson, Tyler on March 12, 2018, his parents, Lawrence on November 30, 1993, and Cora on July 15, 1975; his brothers, Donald on November 21, 1967, and Gerald on May 16, 2021, and sisters Dorothy Bergman Schraad on January 19, 2017, and Cleta Mae Haverkamp on December 8, 2020.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Alice, and three children: Donna (John) Kohake of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Brad (Glenda) Hammes of Baileyville and Sharon (Joe) Stallbaumer of Leawood; four brothers, Alvin, Galen, and Leo all of Seneca, and Larry of Topeka; three sisters, Bernice Heiman of Baileyville, Mary Rose Feuerborn of Richmond, and Jeanette Becker of Seneca; 8 grandchildren; Shannon (Michael) Johnson of Norman, Oklahoma, Morgan Kohake of Broken Arrow, Eric, Nicole and Kaitlyn Hammes of Baileyville, and Jack, Charlie and Ella Stallbaumer of Leawood, and 1 great-grandchild, Brielle Johnson.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 and 7 P.M. on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. on November 18, 2022, at the Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. Burial with military honors will follow at the Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Memorials may be left in his memory to Sacred Heart Cemetery and Nemaha Valley Community Hospital Building Fund, sent in care of the family.