Kathleen A. Ternes, 93, of Conway Springs, retired Copeland Corporation line supervisor, passed away at her home, Thursday evening, June 8, 2023.

Kathleen was born June 12, 1929, at Garden Plain to Arthur Joseph Kraus and Margaret (Cordes) Kraus. She moved with her family to a farm five miles southwest of Conway Springs on Aug. 1, 1935. She was in the first eighth grade graduating class of St. Joseph Catholic School and later graduated from Conway Springs High School with the class of 1947. She began working at Innes’ Department Store in Wichita as a clerk.

Kathleen was united in marriage to Francis Charles “Whitey” Ternes on March 31, 1948, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Conway Springs. They made their first home in Great Bend, where Kathleen worked in the kitchen for St. Rose Hospital. They moved to Zenda, Newton and Clearwater before returning to Conway Springs in 1952 to raise their family of six children.

In 1969, Kathleen began working in the wiring department for Copeland Corporation, reconditioning air conditioning compressors. She later became the lead on the assembly line before retiring in 1991. She and Whitey established their own business at their home, known as K & D Requalification, that continued to keep them busy for several years. Whitey died June 17, 2013.

Kathleen was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Conway Springs, and the Altar Society. She also was active in EHU and a local card club for many years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Michael Ternes; three brothers, Richard, Charles and Stanley Kraus; two sisters, Rita Leftwich and Jean Fiske; and one great-grandson, Bennett Mason.

Kathleen is survived by her children, Vicki Bird and husband Jim of Summerville, S.C., Steve Ternes and wife Kay of Enid, Okla., Cheri Downey and husband Edd of Wichita, Mary Kay Alloway and husband Kurt of Wichita, and Lori Porter and husband Michael of Wichita; daughter-in-law, Virginia Ternes of Colwich; two brothers, Bernard Kraus of Conway Springs, and Gerald Kraus of Columbus, Ohio; her sister-in-law, Marie Prilliman of Conway Springs; 16 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and a number of other relatives and many friends.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 15, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Conway Springs, with Father Kyle Dugan as celebrant. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, at the church. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Conway Springs.

Arrangements were by Ebersole Mortuary, Conway Springs. Online condolences and guest book are available at www.ebersolemortuary.com.

A memorial has been established with St. Joseph Catholic School.