Dolores Mermis, 80, of Russell, Kansas, died on Saturday, February 18, 2017, at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha, Kansas.

Dolores was born on April 27, 1936, in Victoria, Kansas, the daughter of Clemens and Catherine (Stang) Hammerschmidt.  She grew up in Victoria and graduated from Victoria High School in the class of 1954.  She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Elmer Mermis on September 04, 1954 in Victoria, Kansas.  From this union Elmer and Dolores were blessed with 5 children Robert, Karen, Donna, Glenn and Mary.  She worked for J.C. Penney as a catalog supervisor and worked as a custodian at Russell High School, St. Mary's Catholic Church and Boogaarts.  She was a long time member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and was a member of the Russell Council of Catholic Women and TOPS.  She enjoyed embroidering, fishing, reading, praying, polka dancing, playing card games, leading wedding marches, singing old German songs and attending the activities of her children and grandchildren.  Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and great grandchildren.

Surviving family include 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; sister Evelyn Henry and 15 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Elmer on September 29, 2016, son Robert Mermis, brother Elmer Hammerschmidt; sisters Mary Schmidt, Celestina Reidel, Albina Schmidt and Helen Bresaw; and Hubertine Stecklein, daughter-in-law Stacey Mermis; grandsons Bryan Mermis, Timothy Mermis; and great grandson Gabriel Haverkamp.

The funeral mass celebration of Dolores' life will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, February 22, 2017, 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.  Vigil and Rosary will be held at 7 P.M. on Tuesday, February 21, 2017, at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.  Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Tuesday, February 21, 2017, at the mortuary.  Memorials may be given to Apostolic Christian Home of Sabetha, Kansas or Retired Religious of the Salina Dioces c/o St. Mary's Queen of Angels Catholic Church and sent in care of the mortuary.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.