Cyril F. Holthaus, 92, of Seneca, KS, died Monday, April 9, 2007 at Eastridge Nursing Home in Centralia.

Cyril was born January 9, 1915, on a farm west of Seneca, the son of Frank H. and Josephine Rethman Holthaus. He attended St. Mary’s School in St. Benedict; after school, he helped on the family farm. In the 1930s he went to Washington state to pick apples and later to shuck corn in Iowa. After returning to the Seneca area, he farmed and drove a truck for his brother’s hauling business.

Cyril was a member of the Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville, and the Knights of Columbus Council #1769 in Seneca. He also served on the Center Township Board. His hobbies included reading, cattle auctions, and politics. He favorite pastime was driving around checking the health of local farm crops.

On August 27, 1940, he married Emily J. Sudbeck at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. They lived north of Seneca and northeast of Baileyville before moving to their present farm southeast of Baileyville. His wife Emily died on September 26, 2003. Cyril farmed until he entered the nursing home in February of 2006.

Survivors are five sons, Cyril and Leander, both of Seneca, Eugene, Linus, and Elmer, all of Centralia; two daughters, Kathleen McCaffrey of Shelton, CT and Marietta Dalinghaus of Baileyville; 19 grandchildren and 45 great-grandchildren.

Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by six brothers, Bernard C. “Ben”, Adolph, Joseph H., Cornelius, Lawrence, Carl and Gregg Holthaus; and four sisters, Agnes Rottinghaus, Josephine Holthaus, Clementine Bennett and Mary Dick.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM on Wednesday, April 11, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 AM Thursday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville. Burial will be at the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given for the Centralia EMTs, or the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, or the Abundant Life Hospice of Hiawatha, and sent in care of the family.