November 23, 2024

Zita M. Droste, 93, died Saturday, June 10, 2017 at her home in Dodge City.

She was born January 9, 1924 at Marienthal, the daughter of George Henry and Frances Mary (Berning) Kessler. A Dodge City resident since 1947, moving from Marienthal, she worked in the lunchroom at Sacred Heart School and was a cook at Trinity Manor until retiring. She was a loving mother and grandmother. She enjoyed making poppies for the veterans, doing embroidery work and traveling with her husband in their motor home after retirement.

She was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Daughters of Isabella and Altar Society all in Dodge City.

On April 29, 1947 she married Herman H. Droste at Marienthal. He preceded her in death on January 17, 2009.

Survivors include: her children, Sheila Railsback and husband Phil, Dodge City, Royce Droste and wife Debbie, Dodge City and Nina Wendling and husband David, Halstead; her brother, Hilary Kessler and wife Connie, Scott City; 3 sisters, Johanna Biel and husband Junior, Leoti, Julie Ridder and husband Norman, Whitehall, Montana and Juanita Dinges, Ness City; 11 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Tina Marie Droste; 3 sisters, Josephine Droste, Antoinette Paul and Sr. Genevive Kessler and a granddaughter, Tina Railsback.

Daughters of Isabella Rosary will be at 4:00 pm Tuesday, June 13, 2017 and Vigil service at 7:00 pm Tuesday both at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City. Funeral Mass will be 10:00 am Wednesday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe with Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore presiding. Burial will follow in Greencrest Memorial Gardens, Dodge City. Visitation will be Tuesday from noon to 7:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral Chapel.

The family suggests memorials to Windthorst Heritage, Inc. in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.