Elmer C. Goetz, 86, Hays, died Friday, July 23, 2010, at his home.

He was born April 2, 1924, in Munjor to Paul and Christine (Bittel) Goetz. He was a 1942 graduate of Hays High School.

He married Lenore Watts on Nov. 6, 1948, in Hays. He worked for the U.S. Post Office for 30 years and retired in 1982 as a postal system examiner. He was a U.S. Army Air Force veteran during World War II and served as a radio operator on the C-47 Transport Plane in China.

He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9076, American Legion and Knights of Columbus Council No. 1325.

Survivors include his wife, of the home; and a daughter, Cathy Goetz, Hays.

He was preceded in death by a son, John, in January; a brother, Herbert Goetz; and three sisters, Marietta Riedel, Lucille Gelpi and Estelle Schroller.

Services will be at 9 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church; burial St. Joseph Cemetery, with military honors by the Hays VFW and American Legion.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today and from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Monday, both at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 20th and Pine.

A Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 5:30 p.m. today, a vigil at 6 p.m., followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary, all at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to VFW or Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, in care of the funeral home.