Lavonne Kay Horchem, 91, died peacefully in her sleep on October 6, 2022, at Meadowlark Senior Living in Manhattan, Kansas. She was born on September 20, 1931, at home in Utica, Kansas, the daughter of Ephriam “Pete” Gerald and Martha Matilda (Schwindt) Bernbeck.
She graduated from Utica High School and Kansas State University.
She married Richard “Dick” Gayle Horchem on August 16, 1953, in the First Christian Church in Utica. They made their home in Ness City, Kansas, where they raised their three sons.
Kay taught in the Ness City School District for many years. She was active in various community organizations and supported numerous charities over the years.
Kay is survived by two sons, Brad (Cindy) Horchem, Manhattan, Kansas, and Todd (Brenda) Horchem, Ness City; four grandchildren, Travis Horchem, Newton, Kansas; Megan (George) Heyns, Kansas City, Missouri; Kali (Mark) Solomon, Wichita, Kansas; and Jana Horchem, Englewood, Colorado; and five great-grandchildren, Aiyana, Adijah, and Ajani Solomon and Van and Vivian Horchem.
In addition, she is survived by two sisters, Elvira Kilroy, Nokomis, Florida and Wanda McKenzie, Gold Canyon, Arizona; one brother, Gary (Anita) Bernbeck, Grand Junction, Colorado; a sister-in-law, Linda (Terry) Claycamp, Hays, Kansas; and many nieces and nephews. Petros Levis joined the family as an exchange student from Greece during his senior year of high school. Petros and his wife, Ann, Denver, remain a part of the family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son, Craig Horchem, and two brothers, Don Bernbeck and Gerald Bernbeck.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Ness County Bank Building Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or any organization of the donor’s choice. Memorials may be sent to Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, October 14, 2022, at the Ness City Cemetery.