Dateline: Ransom, Kansas

Joseph I. Flax was born Sept. 23, 1920 in Arnold, Kansas and at the age of 89 passed away Aug. 8, 2010 at the Rhode Island Suites, Ransom. He was the oldest of 11 children born to Joseph and Theresia Weber Flax. He was a farmer and raised registered short horn cattle. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945, in Central Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and was wounded in action in the Eastern African Middle Eastern Theater. He received a Purple Heart. Joe belonged to the St. Aloysius Church, Knights of Columbus - 3rd and 4th degree, and the VFW all of Ransom.
On Aug. 12, 1961 he married Mary Frances Friess Simon. He is survived by his wife and 8 children: Raymond Simon and fiancé Sondra Hartman, Minneapolis, Robert and Deborah Simon, Garden City, Stephen and Debbie Simon, Goodland, Rose Marie and Steven Amerine, Liebenthal, Lewis and Crystal Flax, Dodge City, Dennis Flax, Ransom, Cathy and John Blair, Hays and Pete and Janetta Flax, Ransom; three sisters, Martha Peschka, Salina, Sister Doris Flax, Ellis, and Catherine O'Hare, Chicago; 24 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brothers: Albert, Francis, Paul, Leonard, John and infant brother George Flax and sister Mary Prather.

Funeral mass will be Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010, 10:00 am at St. Aloysius Church, Ransom with burial in the St. Aloysius Cemetery. Rosary and parish vigil at the church on Wed. 7:30 pm. Memorial contributions may be given to the Ransom VFW or the Brownell American Legion.