Evangeline Swartz

Evangeline “Vanna” Joy (Woellhof) Swartz, 89, of Hays, Kansas, entered her “Eternal Home” on December 14, 2024, after having lived in seven different states and one foreign country.

Vanna was born on August 17, 1935, in the rural home of her loving parents Edwin T. and Stella (Mosburg) Woellhof of Clay County, Kansas. She attended Mall Creek and Olive Hill, one-room schools prior to graduation from Miltonvale Wesleyan Academy Class of 1953. She received her Associate of Arts degree from Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia, Kansas in 1959; Master of Science in Education from St. Francis University in Ft. Wayne, Indiana in 1971. Vanna was united in marriage with Burton E. Swartz on June 13, 1981, until he entered his Heavenly Home as the result of a tragic car accident in 2005.

She is survived by two stepsons, Stephen (Sylvia) Swartz of Bakersfield, California and Stewart Swartz of Carol Springs, Illinois; daughter-in-law, Darlene Swartz of Carol Springs, Illinois; step-grandchildren, Daniel, Michael (Julia), Joel, Julia, Brandon and Bethany; two great-grandchildren, Sadie and Miles Swartz; sister, Rosalie Shorman of Hays, Kansas. Vanna also leaves behind seven nieces and nephews along with their spouses, Mary Nickels, Esther Oborny of Lincoln, Nebraska; Paul James Woellhof of San Antonio, Texas; Charlotte Mattson of Quincy, Washington; Gary Shorman of Hays, Kansas, Darcy Shorman of Austin, Texas and Mark Shorman of The Colony, Texas, all of whom she was very proud.

When Vanna was a child, she made a lifelong commitment to Jesus Christ. During her lifetime she never wavered from this significant decision.

Vanna and Burton served together with three international ministries: World Gospel Mission with headquarters in Marion, Indiana; The Voice of the Martyrs with headquarters in Bartlesville, Oklahoma; and University Language Services, teaching English as a second language in Northeast China.

Her 23 years of teaching experience began in a one-room school in Northeast Kansas and concluded with teaching at a University in Northeast China. In 1975, Evangeline was recognized as an Outstanding Elementary Teacher in America.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, brothers, David Woellhof and Paul Woellhof; sisters, Edwinna Hall and Maxine Ossman; brother-in-law, Dwaine Shorman and nephew, Wesley Woellhof.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 19, 2024, at the Clay Center Wesleyan Church. Respect calls may be made prior to the funeral service beginning at 9:30 a.m. Interment immediately following the service at Greenwood Cemetery in Clay Center.  For those unable to attend, you can watch the service live at https://www.youtube.com/@claycenterwesleyanchurch/streams.

Memorial Contributions may be made to World Gospel Mission https://wgm.org/give or the Voice of the Martyrs https://www.persecution.com/donate/ or left in care of the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home.