Wendell John Brummer was born March 12th, 1926, in Tipton, Ks, the fourth child of Frank and Katherine (Ketter) Brummer. He died peacefully on Thursday, September 10th, 2026, at the Osborne County Memorial Hospital at the age of 100 years, 6 months, surrounded by his loving family members.
During his early years Wendell attended Holy Corner Grade School in Tipton. Following eighth grade graduation he worked the family farm as many in that generation did at that time.
On June 10th, 1953, Wendell married the love of his life Delores Regina Schroeder of Tipton. This union extended for 71 years and they were blessed with five children, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Wendell and Delores made their first home in Osborne, Ks, subsequently renting two separate farms near Downs, Ks (one and one-half miles southeast) and another (one mile south). In December of 1966, the family moved to their present homestead in Downs for the next 58+ years up until Wendell and Delores admittance to the Downs Care and Rehabilitation Center in early 2024. Although the farm and their children consumed most of their time, once empty nesters, they would always keep their Saturday nights open for dancing and carousing with their fellow cohorts in crime!
Wendell worked at doing whatever was necessary to support his family. In his early married life, he worked at Becker Manufacturing in Downs (also while farming), but farming has always been in his heart and blood. In his early career, he raised hogs, cattle, sheep, chickens and continued to work the land raising crops until his semi-retirement in his early nineties. His son, Ron, continues to work the family farm. In 1996 he was the recipient of the Kansas Bankers Association Award for soil conservation. Memories of ‘life on the farm’ vary by his children but there was always something going on (i.e. mishaps) and never a dull moment! In his spare time, and as a labor of love, Wendell would also build and fix anything and everything. Some of his more creative projects consisted of metal yard art. Throughout his long life he was very tough and resilient surviving several health battles but always bouncing back quickly. However, this time, God finally called his “good and faithful servant” home after a century!
Wendell’s Catholic faith has sustained him all these years. He would say the Rosary daily and was a devout member of the St Mary’s Catholic Church and an active participant in the Knights of Columbus until his health began to deteriorate.
Wendell was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Delores, who passed away in September 2024. He was also preceded in death by his parents, brothers Edwin and Donald, sisters Doris Marie Fogo, Vivian Steerman and Ruth Ellen Dubbert along with several brothers and sisters-in-law.
Wendell is survived by sons David and Ronald of Downs, James (Chris) of Hutchinson, Ks, daughters Darla (Richard) Alflen of Downs, and Gina Brummer of Burleson, Tx, along with three grandchildren: Kyle Alflen, Matthew (Lyric) Brummer, Hannah (Jacob) Younger and two great-grandchildren: Caroline Logan and Ella Jo Younger. He is also survived by his brother Wayne Brummer of Great Bend, Ks and sister Carol Suter of Aurora, Co, along with his sisters-in-law Eleanor Pahls of Beloit, Ks and Carolyn Schmitt and brother-in-law Richard Schmitt of Cawker City, Ks.
A Rosary will be said on Tuesday, September 15th at 7 p.m., Visitation with family present will be from 5 to 7 p.m. until the Rosary service begins. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, September 16th, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Downs. Interment will follow at Downs Cemetery. A luncheon will be in the Church basement coordinated by St. Mary’s Altar Society. Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Altar Society or St. Mary’s (Fund) in care of Schoen Funeral and Monuments 1001 Morgan Ave. Downs, Ks 67437. Online condolences to schoenfhm.com