Dateline: Ness City, Kansas

Claretta Elizabeth (Witthuhn) Pfannenstiel age 85, passed away December 24, 2011 at St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Wichita, KS. She was born on September 10, 1926 in Bazine, Kansas the daughter of Edwin and Clara (Michel) Witthuhn. She was raised on a farm near Bazine. She attended elementary school in Bazine, two years of high school in Ness City and two years of high school in Bazine where she graduated. She attended Ft. Hays State University and Friends University in Wichita.

She began her teaching career at a rural school in Bazine, then taught at the Bazine
Elementary School, and ended her career at the Ness City Elementary School. Claretta was the owner of Ralph's Supermarket and Mini Super Mart in Ness City. She was a member of Sacred Heart Church, where she was a longtime organist, Sacred Heart Altar Society, community service organization Epsilon Sigma Alpha, and was a founding member of the Ness County chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. She was also on the Ness City Library Board for many years. She dedicated much of her life to sending cards to the community as a representative of Sacred Heart Altar Society. She was also known for her philanthropy within the community.

On April 15, 1947 she married Ralph William Pfannenstiel at Sacred Heart Church in Ness City. He preceded her in death on July 18, 2003.

She is survived by her children: Mike Pfannenstiel father of Amanda (Bruce) Buethe, Ness City, Matt (Kelsey) Pfannenstiel, McPherson, Keith (Amanda) Pfannenstiel, Greeley, Colorado parents of Benjamin and Noah; Mark and Sara Pfannenstiel parents of Lindsey (Josh) Watkins, White Plains, MD parents of Brynn, Dakota, & Madison, and Lauren Pfannenstiel (fiance Josh Crombie), Ness City; Monty and Susan Pfannenstiel parents of John and Summer, Ness City; Marcia and Mike Pritchett parents of Michael and Mac, Hutchinson; Myra and Tom Lindeman parents of Emily and Katie, Wichita. Other survivors include her sister, Bernice Moore, Bazine.

She was preceded in death by parents Edwin and Clara Witthuhn, husband Ralph Pfannenstiel, daughter-in-law Teressa Pfannenstiel, and grandson Phillip Pritchett.

Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, December 29, 2011, 10:30 A.M. at the Sacred Heart Church, Ness City followed by burial in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. Rosary will be Wednesday, December 28, 6:30 with the Parish Vigil, 7:00 at the church.

Friends may call Tuesday, from noon until 9:00 P.M. and Wednesday 9:00 A.M. until 3:00 PM at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City and at the church prior to the services. Memorials may be sent to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and Ness City Public Library.