April Ann Ulrich, 54, of Russell, Kansas, died on Friday, October 14, 2022, at the Hays Medical Center Emergency Room in Hays, Kansas. April gained her heavenly wings surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle with Pancreatic cancer.
April was born on April 6, 1968, in Russell, Kansas, the daughter of Richard Wayne and Mary Ann (Deines) Hogan. She grew up in Russell, Kansas, and graduated from Russell High School in the class of 1986. After high school, she graduated from Ft. Hays State University with a bachelor’s degree in business. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Wayne Doug Ulrich Jr. on August 24, 2001, in Russell, Kansas. She worked for many years as a legal assistant for the Mark Blehm Law Office in Russell. She was a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church in Russell. She enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening, animals, puzzles and watching her daughter Josalyn compete in rodeos. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and especially enjoyed being grandma to her six grandchildren. She always had a welcoming smile, hugs and warm food to any friends that her daughters brought home. She was “Mama Ape” to many.
Surviving family include her husband Doug of the home; daughters Brittney Mayberry (Jason) of Hays, Kansas, Brooklyn Harders (Zach) of Russell, Kansas and Josalyn Ulrich (Blade Overturf) of Russell, Kansas; mother Mary Ann Hogan of Russell, Kansas; brother Richard Hogan II of Gorham, Kansas; sisters Kimberly Tormanen (Darrel) of Hays, Kansas, Shelly Twenter (Jeff) of Russell, Kansas and Marla King (Terry) of Judsonia, Arkansas; 6 grandchildren Ryler, Raegan, Rossie, Rayla, Cash and Cooper.
She was preceded in death by her father Richard W. Hogan and mother in-law Mary Ulrich.
A celebration of April’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, October 21, 2022, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Russell, Kansas. Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at the mortuary with family greeting guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Thursday evening.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.