Max Hiebert

Max Hiebert, age 81, of Ulysses, Kansas, died May 12, 2019, at Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital in Ulysses, Kansas. He was born February 6, 1938, in Dodge City, Kansas, the son of John and Edith (Mehl) Hiebert.

Max grew up in the Turpin, Oklahoma, area. He accepted Christ as his Savior at an early age. After the death of his mother, he moved with his family to Ulysses and attended his Junior and Senior year and was a graduate of Grant County Rural High School. He played football for Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Oklahoma, graduating in 1960. He spent his summers playing for the Liberal BJ’s baseball team. After graduating, Max taught in Amarillo, Texas, for five years. During this time, Max married Donna Wilkerson on December 10, 1960, in Johnson, Kansas. They moved back to Ulysses, Kansas, where Max taught math and coached football, track and basketball. In all, Max coached 65 seasons of sports. Max received his Master’s Degree in Mathematics from the University of New Mexico in 1970. He also taught in Colombia, South America from 1977-1979. Max was active in several churches where he was a song leader for 40 years, taught Sunday School and held many other church leadership roles. He was instrumental in starting Fellowship of Christian Athletes which he led for 30 years at the high school in Ulysses. He served on the Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital board. He was inducted into the Kansas Teacher’s Hall of Fame on June 7, 1997. Max was selected as the Grant County Citizen of the Year in 1998. He was a master electrician, and enjoyed wood working and carpentry. Max and Donna moved to North Newton, Kansas, in 2015 and recently returned to Ulysses, Kansas.

Max is survived by his wife, Donna of Ulysses, Kansas; one daughter, Terri Cantrell and husband Tim of Ulysses, Kansas; two grandchildren, Katelynn Johnson and husband Josh of Ulysses, Kansas, and Austin Cantrell and wife Olivia of Memphis, Tennessee; one brother, Arlis Hiebert and wife Barbara of San Marcus, Texas; step-brother, Don Wiebe and wife Arlene of Calgary Ontario, Canada; step-sister, Loretta Jost and husband Dean of Aurora, Nebraska; two great-grand children, Charles Max and Andi Johnson; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; step-brother, Gary Wiebe; and one son, William John Hiebert in 1966.

Funeral Service will be Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. at Celebration Baptist Church in Ulysses, Kansas, with Reverend Jon Becker, Reverend Don Morris and Reverend Tim Sullivan officiating. Burial will follow at Ulysses Cemetery, Ulysses, Kansas. Friends may call at Garnand Funeral Home in Ulysses, Kansas, on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, from 2:00 p.m until 8:00 p.m. Family requests memorial contributions be given to Fellowship of Christian Athletes in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W Grant, Ulysses, Kansas 67880. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.