Dateline: Otis, Kansas

Connie Lynne (Hoch) Hoopingarner, 72, passed away on June 22, 2015 at Locust Grove Village in LaCrosse, KS.
She was born on August 24, 1942 to O.C. (‘Poss’) and Esther (Keenan) Hoch. She graduated from Hoisington High School in 1960 and went on to earn her Dental Hygiene Degree from the University of Missouri Kansas City. She worked as a Dental Hygienist until her retirement in 2002.

She married Larry Dwight Hoopingarner on February 29, 1964 in Las Vegas, NV. They made their home in Manter, KS. Connie became an EMT and was active in St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church, including being a member of the Altar Society. She was an avid gardener and always had a large garden and was a known animal lover. It wasn’t unusual for ‘stray’ animals to show up on the family doorstep, as everyone knew Connie would take them in. In 1993 Larry and Connie moved to Lake Ozark, MO. Upon Larry’s death in 2010 she moved to Otis, KS.

She was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Olmitz, KS.

Larry and Connie raised six children: Larry A. Hoopingarner, Kansas City, KS, Lori Rahjes (husband, Ken), Elwood, NE, Lindsay Hoopingarner (wife, Traci) Linwood, KS, Lance Hoopingarner (wife, Brenda), Otis, KS, Lyle Hoopingarner, San Francisco, CA, and Lisa Compton, Macks Creek, MO.

In addition to her children, Connie is survived by brothers; Don (Dick) Hoch and wife Sharon, Pomona, KS, Bob Hoch and wife Crystal, Hoisington, KS and Pat Hoch, Hoisington, KS. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Eric Hoopingarner and Gayle Atkins, Will, Grant, Sarah and Matthew Rahjes , Ashlyn Knaus, Victoria Hoopingarner, Paige Addison, Jacob Lett and Matthew Lett, Landon, Seth and Jake Hoopingarner, Haley Hoopingarner and Alyssa Jones. As well she is survived by five great grandchildren; Xivianne Matos, Yaimary Matos, Yuniel and Dahvin Hoopingarner and Dahlia Knaus.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Dwight Hoopingarner, parents, O.C. and Esther Hoch, and brother, Jon Hoch.

Vigil with Rosary will be 7 p.m., Sunday, June 28, 2015, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, celebrated by Fathers Anselm Eke and Ultan Murphy. Burial will be 1:00 p.m., Tuesday at Stanton County Cemetery, Johnson, KS. Friends may call 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to St. Ann’s Catholic Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, P.O.Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net