Lawrence Sander
Lawrence Sander, age 87, of Salina passed away peacefully Thursday, July 3, 2025.
He was born February 6, 1938, on the family farm in Walker, Kansas to Anton P. and Rosa (Nemecheck) Sander. Lawrence was the 10th of 11 children. He grew up enjoying the outdoors. He graduated from Victoria High School in 1957. He worked in Russell for Carter Block plant and eventually met the love of his life Barbara Brown. They had a short engagement and were married January 30, 1965.
He moved to Salina in 1966 and started working for Hawker Beechcraft where he worked for 35 years. Lawrence never knew a stranger and would strike up a conversation with anyone. You could always find Lawrence outside and enjoying the summer sun. He was passionate about keeping his lawn the envy of the neighborhood. It was always green and nicely maintained. He also enjoyed riding his motorcycle and later cruising the neighborhood on his tricycle. In the fall, he would focus on cheering on his favorite team, Go Chiefs!
Left to mourn are his son Kevin Sander and wife Jessica. His two sisters, Sister Helen Sander CSA, Fond du Lac WI; and Rosie Nash, Dallas TX. Plus many nieces, nephews, extended family, and the friends he made along the way.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Barbara of 39 years, six sisters and two brothers.
Services Held At
10:00 am Monday, July 7, 2025
St Mary's Catholic Church
Salina, Kansas
Burial
2:00 pm Monday
Saint Anns Cemetery
Walker, Kansas
The family suggests Memorials to: St Mary's Catholic Church
Aaron John Klaassen
Aaron John Klaassen, age 44, passed away at Select Specialty Hospital at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, KS. He was born on April 27, 1981, in Lawrence, Kansas, to David and Margaret Klaassen. Aaron was a member of the Topeka Reformed Presbyterian Church. In 2003, Aaron earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business from Bethany College, in Lindsborg, Kansas. He then attended Kansas State University, where he earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration. He served as a fiscal analyst for the Kansas Legislative Research Department for 17 years, from 2006-2023. He loved his work and his colleagues and the many legislators he diligently served in the Topeka Capitol Building. He loved serving the State of Kansas as he liaised with various state agencies in his work.
Having been first diagnosed with cancer as a 6-year-old boy, and having suffered three different cancers throughout his life, Aaron saw all suffering as intended by God to strengthen the Lord’s call upon his life. Aaron loved the Christian writer C.S. Lewis, and often reminded his family that suffering “is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Aaron expressed complete confidence that he could rest in the goodness of God, and would quote Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” He faithfully worshiped His savior Jesus Christ, even in the years and months he was unable to leave his home. A fighter in his battle with cancer, Aaron also knew that, in God’s ordained time, Jesus would bring him to his eternal home. Aaron’s father, David, always said, “He is one of the bravest men I ever knew.”
Aaron is survived by his parents, David and Margaret Klaassen, and his 12 brothers and sisters and their spouses and children, Justin and Jessica Klaassen and their children Elizabeth, Julia, and Theodore; Heather and Philip McCollum and their children Ciara, Lewis, Ronan, Liam, Natalia, and Aiden; Jill and Gary Gunn and their children Joseph, Jeremiah, Daniel, and Ross; Hillary and Naval Daver and their children Zachary, Joshua, and Katrina; Leslie and Jeremiah Shafer; Michael Klaassen; Samuel and Sydney Klaassen and their children Eloise and Friedrich; Meghan Klaassen; Laura Klaassen; Mark Klaassen; Stephen and Meredith Klaassen; and Katie and Matt Plummer and their children Branch and Augustus.
Aaron was preceded in death by his younger brother, Nathaniel Paul Klaassen, and his grandparents, Raymond and Elloise Klaassen and Henry and Ruth Tims.
Aaron loved his many nieces and nephews. He often displayed the newest extended family member on the background of his phone. A man of generosity and faith, Aaron was quick to find ways to help others and devoted himself to prayer for his family and friends. Aaron will be deeply missed.
A visitation will be held at 500 S. Ohio St. in Salina, KS, on Thursday, July 10th from 6:00-8:00 pm. Please join us.
A funeral service is scheduled for Friday, July 11th at 11:00 am at Elim Lutheran Church in Marquette, Kansas. Burial will be at the Marquette Cemetery immediately after the service. All are welcome.
For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5If0KI-8w3A
