Cleta M. Hammes

Cleta M. Hammes, 70, Rt. 1, Seneca, died Wednesday, February 9, 2005, at Life Care Center in Seneca. She had Parkinson’s disease since 1979.
     She was born August 9, 1934, near Seneca, the daughter of Leo and Bertha Bergman Lierz. She attended Pleasant Hill School.
     On February 27, 1954, she married Gerald Hammes at St. Augustine Church, Fidelity. They lived three miles west of Seneca, their present farm, where they raised livestock and always had a large garden. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 2004.
     She was a member of Sacred Heart Church at Baileyville, the Altar Society, where she served as an officer, and the church choir.
     Survivors besides her husband Gerald of the home are: two sons, Bob Hammes of Hoyt and Mike Hammes of Topeka; five daughters; LuAnn Roth of Paxico, Marlene Wessel of Seneca, Joan Glissman of Centralia, and Ellen Laird and Tricia Hammes, both of Topeka; three brothers, Elmer Lierz of Seneca, Verness Lierz of Kansas City, MO, and Gerald Lierz of Holton; two sisters Eileen Sudbeck of Rt 1, Seneca, and Marceil Rottinghaus of Yuma, AZ; and 17 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
     Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Lester Lierz, August 16, 1963 and an infant brother, Victor, in 1936.
    Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday at Sacred Heart Church at Baileyville. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 2 and 7 P.M. Friday the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, where she will lie in state after 8:30 A.M.
    Memorials may be given for Sacred Heart Cemetery and sent in care of the family.