Donald Herrs

Donald William Herrs, 73, lifelong Paola resident, passed away Tuesday afternoon, April 13, 2010 at Meadowbrook Rehabilitation Hospital in Gardner of complications from several health problems following knee replacement surgery March 1st. He had expected to return home this month. Don, as he was more commonly known, was born in rural Paola on Aug. 7, 1936, the son of Arnold George and Alma Dora Koelsch Herrs. He graduated from Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Block and was a 1954 graduate of Paola High School. While in school, he participated in football, basketball and track. He served with the Kansas Army National Guard from 1954 to 1964. On Nov. 17, 1962 he was united in marriage to Delores Ann Worthington in Louisburg. They made their home in Paola and became the parents of one daughter. Don was an over-the-road truck driver and worked with heavy equipment all of his working career. He was employed at Northern Excavating Co., Mid-America Propane Co., Hercules Ordnance Plant in De Soto and J&J Metal Products Co. He also worked for Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co. for 12 years before the company closed the Paola warehouse. He then worked for Thoden trucking for several years before retiring in 1999. He was member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Block; a member and past commander of the American Legion Miami Post No. 156 of Paola. He had served in various offices and on committees. He was baseball chairman for a number of years, raising funds for the baseball program and initiating new lighting and the advertising signs on the fencing around Russell Field. Don enjoyed hunting and fishing all of his life until his health failed. Until his illness, he loved making fishing jigs for children and friends; donating his handmade items for fund-raisers for various benefits in the area. Surviving are his wife, Delores Herrs of the home; his daughter, Denise Reynolds, and a brother, Loren Herrs, both of Paola; and two grandsons, Matthew Reynolds of Osawatomie, and Michael Reynolds of Paola. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Don Herrs Memorial Fund in care of Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS 66071. Trinity Lutheran Church in Block Community Service: Saturday, April 17, 2010 10:00 AM Visitation: Friday, April 16, 2010 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM