Catherine Anderson Hammeke, 101, died Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Ellinwood District Hospital, Ellinwood, KS. She was born on May 6, 1925, in Virgil, Kansas, to Arthur Peter and Mary Ellen Berthot Anderson.
After graduating in 1943 from Hamilton High School in Hamilton, Kansas, she was employed by Material Distributors, a sub-division of Beech Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas. In 1944, she moved to Ellinwood and was employed by Wolf Milling Company. Later, she worked for several oil companies, including Pan American and founded her own secretarial service during the 1960’s. She also worked as the secretary for the Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company and at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Rectory. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, St. Joseph’s Altar Society and was a member of the First Diocesan Pastoral Council of Dodge City, Kansas. Some of her greatest joys were spending time with her grandchildren, painting ceramics, sewing, raising beautiful gardens, and attending many, many Ellinwood High School musical events.
On November 27, 1945, she married Paul LaVern Hammeke. He died November 25, 1996. She was preceded in death by her sons Arthur Thomas and Gregory Wayne, son-in-law Dale Knop, her parents, her eight brothers: Leon, Albert, Louis, Earnest, Raymond, Floyd, Clyde Thomas, and Roy Patrick, and a sister, Mary Ellen.
She is survived by her daughter Paula Knop and daughter-in-law Carol Hammeke; 18 grandchildren: Kara (Brady) Mills, Kathy (Cary) Steiner, Mark (Christine) Knop, Lisa(Mark) Circle, Audra (Shawn) Richardson, John Knop, Julie (Colt) Oberle, and Christopher (Jennifer) Knop; 18 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, andher sister, Bettie Sauber.
Visitation will be from 12-5p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at the Minnis Chapel, Ellinwood, KS. Family will receive visitors on Wednesday, June 10th, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and after the vigil and rosary, 7 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Ellinwood, KS. Funeral mass will be on Thursday, June 11, 2026, 10:30 a.m., at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church followed by interment in the Lakin-Comanche Cemetery in Ellinwood. Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, St. Joseph’s School Endowment Fund, or to the donor’s preference in care of Minnis Chapel, PO box 246, Ellinwood, KS 67526.