Frances Lorene Pauls

INMAN -Frances L. Pauls passed away peacefully and went to her heavenly home at the age of 97, on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at Harvest House, Pleasant View Home, in Inman, Kansas.

 Frances was born on January 6, 1926, to Isaac D. Dirks and Marie (Janzen) Dirks.  She grew up on an orchard farm in the sand hills south of Buhler, with a younger sister and three brothers.  She attended Willow Grove Grade School.  She graduated from Buhler High School in 1942.  She trusted Christ as her Savior and was baptized upon her confession of faith at Finamore Lake southeast of Buhler. After graduation from high school, she began working at the local drugstore.  

On October 24, 1944, Frances was united in marriage to John R. Pauls of Inman.  They had 4 children and enjoyed 58 wonderful years together.   Frances kept busy keeping the home going with gardening, canning, sewing, and preparing wonderful meals.  She loved flowers and would plant big flower gardens. She helped with the farming by driving the tractor, hauling wheat during harvest, milking cows, and taking care of livestock and other animals they raised through the years.

They enjoyed traveling together, and spending time with family and friends.  They also enjoyed the fellowship of five couples who were special to them, who met regularly for seventy plus years.

While her son Mark attended Central Christian High School, Frances would help plan and cook the Low German food that was served at their annual fund raiser Low German meal.  Her interest in cooking Low German foods offered her the opportunity to help cook some of the Low German foods at the Hesston Colonial House, and later at the Breadbasket in Newton.  After John R.'s retirement from the Railroad, he joined her and helped cook.  They called it their "hobby."  Frances also helped make some of the Low German food at Ruthies' Café in Inman and enjoyed her time there.   

Frances was a faithful member of Zoar Mennonite Brethren Church, Inman.  Ministry was important to her.  Frances and her husband, John R., were both active in church and served in various compacities.  They also participated in the Prison Ministries M-2 Program, and faithfully visited the people that were assigned to them.  In their retirement years, they provided a Sunday morning church service at several different care facilities in McPherson once a month, along with several other couples from Zoar Church, who would help with the special music.  John R. would provide the devotional.  Frances also volunteered at the Christian Book Store in McPherson, that supported the Youth for Christ Ministry.  It was important to both her and Dad, to see their children and grandchildren walking with the Lord.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.   She was dearly loved and will be missed.

Frances is survived by a daughter, Judy (Brian) Gallagher of Inman; a son, Mark (Miriam) Pauls of Inman; and son-in-law, Steve Hunt of Oregon; eight grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren, Matt and Lori, Maddie and Grace Gallagher, Wichita; Shawn, Kieran and Breckan Gallagher, Inman; Patrick and Miranda, Killian and Brody Gallagher, Inman; Aaron, Marla, and Madeline Pauls, Hesston; Andy and Tiffani, Malachi, Aleah, and Michael Pauls, Wichita;  Jenae and Adam, Josiah and Isaiah Suderman, Halstead;  David and Prema, Ian, Aviva, and Amadeo Hunt, Oregon; Jonathan Hunt, Nevada; and a brother-in-law, Daniel (Kathy) Pauls, Topeka.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John R. Pauls, a daughter, Lorene Hunt, a son, Keith Pauls; three brothers and three sisters-in-law, Richard (LaVera) Dirks, Victor (Evelyn) Dirks, and Harvey (Ramona) Dirks; a sister, Evelyn Doerksen; and two brothers-in-law, John Pankratz and Martin Doerksen.

We as a family want to acknowledge and express our appreciation for the kind and compassionate care Frances received from the staff while she lived at Harvest House in Pleasant View Home.  We also appreciate very much the Good Shepherd Hospice staff who visited Mom the past several months and helped to monitor her health until her passing. 

A private family burial has taken place at Zoar Cemetery.  A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, May 12, 2023, at Zoar Mennonite Brethren Church, Inman.  Services will be live streamed on the Inman Funeral Home Facebook Page.    Memorials may be made to Zoar Church or Gideon's International in care of Inman Funeral Home.  To leave a condolence for the family, visit: www.inmanfh.com.