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Remi Edward Haverkamp

Seneca, Kansas

02/27/1932 - 01/25/2025

Remi Edward Haverkamp 92, of Seneca, passed away on January 25, 2025 with his family by his side at Crestview Nursing and residential Living in Seneca.

Remi was born February 27, 1932 to Aloysius & Eleanor Enneking Haverkamp.  He was raised on a farm outside of Seneca, KS with 5 brothers & sisters and graduated in 1950 from Sts. Peter & Paul High School.

On July 22, 1953, Remi married the love of his life, Cleta Mae Hammes, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca.  Remi & Cleta had started dating three years earlier after meeting at a dance in Marysville, KS.  After their wedding, Remi & Cleta moved to a farm outside of Centralia, KS and started their life together.

Remi was soon drafted into the Korean War and left for basic training with the army in April 1954 just one month before their first child was born.  Remi was eventually transferred to Fort Gordon in Georgia where he was stationed at the headquarters of the Military Police Training Center.  Cleta Mae joined him with their baby daughter, Brenda, and they lived in Augusta, Georgia for the next two years.  Remi & Cleta returned to their farm in Centralia, KS in 1956 where they lived most of their lives and had 5 more children.

In 1967, Remi started his own heating & air conditioning business where he serviced & repaired furnaces and air conditioners as well as bulk milk tanks for dairies, grocery stores, and private residences over all of northeast Kansas and parts of Nebraska.  He continued to work long hours with his business until he discontinued it in July 1973 when Remi & Cleta bought the grocery store in Centralia which was originally located on Main Street.  Three years later, Remi built a new building for the grocery store and it was moved to the current location of Haverkamp Grocery in Centralia.  Remi & Cleta ran the grocery store for many years until selling it to their son, Steve, in 2002.

Remi & Cleta were life-long members of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca and Remi was a member of the Seneca Knights of Columbus council 1769.  For many years, Remi was the Commander of the Legion Post 216 as well as the Color Guard in Centralia.  In their later years, Remi & Cleta enjoyed traveling to Yuma, AZ as snowbirds in the winter months where they enjoyed spending time with many friends & relatives.  In 2014, they moved to Seneca where they bought a house on the golf course.

Remi had a true passion for farming which he enjoyed doing until finally retiring when he was 90 years old.  He taught himself how to use the internet to research the grain markets, weather and many other topics useful for modern farming.  Remi never lost his youthful love of life and enjoyed learning new things as well as having many adventures with no regard to his age.  He bought his Harley Davidson motorcycle on his 70th birthday and enjoyed riding it on his trips to Yuma, AR as well as with the Legion Riders in Seneca, KS.  He even rode his Harley Davidson on his 91st birthday at K-State Harley Day at the football game in 2022.  He had a love of travel and history throughout his life.  Even in his later years, he made many trips to visit grandchildren and other family members all over the United States and even travelled to Germany & Europe with his daughter, Joyce.  In the last few months of his life, he travelled to Colorado, Utah, and Montana to visit family.  He was devoted to his wife, Cleta Mae, becoming her full-time caregiver for many years after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and eventually became wheelchair bound and unable to care for herself.  His dedication to Cleta throughout her decline during the final years of her life was inspirational and his love for her was apparent to all who witnessed it.  Even after she had to move to the care home, he continued to visit her daily and assist in her care.  Cleta never forgot that Remi was her husband and even at the very end when she struggled to communicate, her face would immediately light up whenever she saw him.

Remi was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Cleta Mae, both of his parents, two brothers, Norbert and Linus Haverkamp, and one daughter-in-law, Cyrilla Haverkamp.

Remi is survived by his children: Brenda Haverkamp of Topeka, KS, Randy Haverkamp of Loveland, CO, Steve Haverkamp (Deb) of Seneca, KS, Joyce Haverkamp of Brooklyn, NY, Janel Chilson of Overland Park, KS and Stacy Lehmen (Jim) of Atoka, TN; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.  Remi is also survived by his brother, Aloysius of Baileyville, KS; and two sisters, Grace Junk of Layton, UT and Mary Ann Haug of Steiner, NE.

Mass of a Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 PM on Friday, January 31, 2025, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, KS.  A rosary will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, KS.  He will be laid to rest with full military honors in the Catholic Cemetery in Seneca, KS.

Memorials can be made to the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca and sent in care of the family.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, KS.  He will be laid to rest with full military honors in the Catholic Cemetery in Seneca, KS.

Mass of a Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 PM on Friday, January 31, 2025, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, KS.

He will be laid to rest with full military honors in the Catholic Cemetery in Seneca, KS.

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6 Comments

  1. Mark Heiniger on January 26, 2025 at 2:30 pm

    So sorry for your loss. I had many enjoyable conversations with Remi and Cleta while they owned the Grocery store. Lots of memories there. He will be missed.

  2. Joan akin on January 26, 2025 at 2:50 pm

    So sorry for your loss. Prayers

  3. Jon and Marjean Moore on January 28, 2025 at 10:26 am

    Jon and I will miss our good neighbor,no more beers on porch

  4. Shirley Egner on January 31, 2025 at 12:06 pm

    I enjoyed working for Cleta and Remi at the store. Their devotion to each other was always apparent. When ever I would see Remi through out the years after they sold the store he would always give me a hug and ask how I was doing. I am so sorry for your loss. Sending prayers.

  5. Tina DiFeliciantonio on February 1, 2025 at 10:47 am

    I wish I had the opportunity to meet your Dad, he sounded amazing – a real character who had character as a good man. Sending love to you and your family. OxTina & Jane

  6. Familie Osterhus Germany on February 5, 2025 at 7:21 am

    We had a wonderful time with him, Cleta and Joyce in Germany. We are grateful that we got to know Remi. He was great. A final greeting from your parents’ homeland. We will pray for him.

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