Lifelong Collyer resident, Clarence J. Dinkel, passed away Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital in WaKeeney. He was 77 years of age.

Clarence was born December 10, 1935, in rural Quinter, the son of Anton and Rosalia (Giebler) Dinkel. He graduated from Collyer High School in the class of 1953. He went on to serve our country in the United States Army. He was a farmer and rancher his whole life. Clarence was a member of the Eagle's Lodge, the Collyer Community Alliance, a lifelong member of the Collyer City Fire Department and the Trego County Fire Department. He also served as a councilman in Collyer. Clarence loved to hunt and fish. He was a regular at the car races, and a member of his nephew's pit crew. He also loved to get together with friends and family to play cards. He enjoyed the company so much, he was usually the first to arrive and the last to leave. Clarence will be dearly missed.

He is survived by two brothers Leo and wife Odelia of Hays, and Robert L. and wife Lori of Collyer; one sister Rosemary Walt of Collyer; twenty six nieces and nephews; two brothers-in-law Jim Shaeffer and Tony Malsom; and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers Paul and wife Ann, Don and wife Marian, and Alvin; four sisters Bertha Appelhans, Marcella and husband Ted Malsom, Beata Malsom, and Rosalie Shaeffer; and brother-in-law Ted J. Walt.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 26, 2013 at St. Michael's Catholic Church of Collyer. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Thursday, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a parish vigil service immediately following, both at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Michael's Catholic Church masses or cemetery fund and may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS 67752.

Words of support and sympathy may be sent to the family by clicking "Send Private Condolences" or "Sign Guest Book" above.