Ramiro E. Gutierrez

A celebration of the funeral Mass for Ramiro E. Gutierrez, 86, Hays, formerly of Russell, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell, with the Rev. Charles Steier officiating. Burial will follow at the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Russell.
Mr. Gutierrez died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, at The Rose Unit in Abilene.
He was born in Hebbronville, Texas, on Dec. 26, 1924, the son of Eusebio and Virginia Martinez Gutierrez. He lived in Edinburg, Texas, and moved to Russell in 1968. Mr. Gutierrez entered the U.S. Army at 18 and served for four years as a medic, earning the rank of colonel. He also studied at Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas, and the Gradwohl School of Medical Technology in St. Louis. Mr. Gutierrez was a medical technologist at the Russell Regional Hospital from 1968 to 1990, when he retired. He was a member and an officer in the American Medical Technologists Association, a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus, and parishioner at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell.
He married Elida Guzman on Feb. 27, 1949, in Edinburg. They were married 56 years. She preceded him in death.
He was also preceded in death by his parents; a son, Gilberto Ambrosio; two brothers, Antonio and Lucio; two sisters, Julia Trevino and Emilia Moron; and a granddaughter, Martha Graf.
Survivors include five sons, Richard and wife Linda, and Steve and wife Monica, all of Lawrence, Mario and wife Karen, Hays, Jerry and wife Amanda, Salina, and Martin and wife Shellie, Towanda; three daughters, Norma Peck and husband Roger, Manhattan, Dalia Hale and husband Steve, Wichita, and Teresa Graf and husband Mark, Tulsa, Okla.; two brothers, Romero, Aransas Pass, Texas, and Gustavo, Edinburg; 23 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Friends may call 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell. A vigil service will be at 6 p.m. today at the church, where the family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The family suggests memorials to the church, sent in care of the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, 610 N. Maple, Russell, KS 67665.