Willis Mumm

Willis Paul Mumm, 97, was born Nov 11, 1923, to Fred and Minnie (Howard) Mumm on a farm near Narka, Kansas. He died Friday at Heritage Crossing.

Willis was the fifth of five children. He lived his first five years on the farm where he was born and then moved three miles east of Chester. As a young boy he attended Hubbell Methodist Church, sometimes riding a horse along with his brothers and sisters to Sunday school. After the death of his father he, with his mother, moved to a farm northeast of Chester. He attended Mount Zion grade school and graduated from Chester High School the Class of 1941.

He was united in marriage to Claribel Fraley Feb. 2, 1956. To this union three sons were born, Paul, Todd and Blake.

Willis enjoyed farming. He and Claribel worked side by side working the fields and raising cattle and caring for a dairy herd. In 1979 they moved to Chester. Willis longed for the country life, missing it, and in 1995 they had the opportunity to move to a farm south of Geneva, to be close to their son Paul.

Willis restored Case tractors found at farm sales and in tree rows.

He was preceded in death by parents, Fred and Minnie Mumm; his wife, Claribel; sisters, Iola and Lucille; and brothers, Kenneth and Elvin.