Elmer Mermis, 86, of Russell, Kansas, died on Thursday, September 29, 2016, at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha, Kansas.

Elmer was born on June 01, 1930, in Gorham, Kansas, the son of Alex and Elizabeth (Kisner) Mermis.  He grew up in Gorham and graduated from Gorham High School in the class of 1949.  After high school he joined the U.S. Army and served in Austria during the Korean war.  After the war he met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Dolores Hammerschmidt on September 04, 1954 in Victoria, Kansas.  From this union Elmer and Dolores were blessed with 5 children Robert, Karen, Donna, Glenn and Mary.  He worked most of his adult life for the Union Pacific Railroad as a section hand, machine operator, and section foreman.  After retiring from the railroad he worked as a janitor at St. Mary's Catholic Church and several banks in the area.  He was a lifetime member of St. Mary's Catholic Church as well as a member of the Knights of Columbus, Russell V.F.W., American Legion and TOPS.  He enjoyed fishing, polka dancing, playing computer games, leading wedding marches, singing old German songs, playing cards and attending the activities of his children and grandchildren.  Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family.

Surviving family include his wife Dolores of Sabetha, Kansas; daughter Karen Ulrich (Dale) of Sabetha, Kansas; daughter Donna Vlcek (Jim) of Russell, Kansas; son Glenn Mermis of Phoenix, Arizona; daughter Mary Nuss (Monte) of Russell, Kansas; daughter-in-law Carol Mermis of Salina, Kansas; 15 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and 1 great grandchild on the way.

He was preceded in death by his son Robert Mermis, brothers Edwin Mermis, Ralph Mermis and Alphonse Mermis; sisters Evelyn Warfield, Sr. Concepta (Loretta) Mermis, Henrietta Sommers and Alice Milke; daughter-in-law Stacey Mermis; grandsons Bryan Mermis, Timothy Mermis; and great grandson Gabriel Haverkamp.

The funeral mass celebration of Elmer's life will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, October 05, 2016, at St. Mary's Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell, Kansas.  Burial will follow the funeral mass at St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery in Walker, Kansas.  Military honors will be performed by the Russell V.F.W. Post #6240 Honor Guard.  Vigil and Rosary will be held at 7 P.M. on Tuesday, October 04, 2016, at the Catholic Church.  Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Tuesday, October 04, 2016, at the mortuary.  Memorials may be given to St. Mary's Queen of Angels Catholic Church or Nemaha County Home Health-Hospice and sent in care of the mortuary.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.