Garfield - Elmer James Hogan, 96, of rural Garfield, Kansas, passed away Sunday, September 6, 2026 at Medicalodges skilled care facility in Kinsley. He was born November 16, 1929, in the family home southeast of Larned, Kansas to Daniel Jeremiah and Anna Roselia (Stumps) Hogan. Elmer was united in marriage to Leta Faye Wittig on June 1, 1953, and together they raised four children: Nancy, Janet, Bev and Greg. Elmer spent his lifetime farming and ranching at the homestead southwest of Garfield. A quiet man with a sharp mind, calloused hands and a big heart, his life was built on the principles of hard work, common sense, and kindness to others. As a child, Elmer endured the hardships of the Great Depression and the dust storms of the 30’s. These experiences led him to forever appreciate the simple joys in life, and the enduring generosity to help friends and neighbors in their time of need.

Elmer had a calm demeanor, was kind and respectful, to both people and animals, and had a love for antique tractors, cars and trucks. An excellent self-taught mechanic and welder, he fabricated many inventive contraptions around the farm, like his "turn-around" boom lift loader made from a wheat truck chassis and engine, a hydraulic lift, and wheels from surplus B-17 bombers.

He developed a fondness for school buses. During his high school years, starting at age 14, Elmer drove the bus daily for many of his fellow classmates at Garfield School. Later in life, as a means to build a retirement nest egg, he took up a second career as a bus driver for Fort Larned unified school district #495 from 1993 - 2011. Elmer took pride in safely transporting the children, and enjoyed interacting with them every day. He built a reputation for always having a clean, well maintained, and orderly bus.

Elmer is survived by his wife Faye of the home, daughters, Nancy Lempka (Gary), Dodge City, KS; Janet Hogan, Claremore, OK; Bev Gross (Lee), Hays, KS ; son Greg Hogan, Garfield, KS; grandsons, Kale Lempka (Gloria), Dodge City, KS; Chad Lempka (Lisa), Lakin, KS; Grant Lempka (Michelle), Temple, TX; Brant Dipman (Lana), Claremore, OK; granddaughter, Tamara Binder (James) Claremore, OK; eight great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Anna (Stumps) Hogan; his sisters, Luella, Lucille, Rita Ann, and Geraldine; his brothers, Leonard, Edward and Donald; sister-in-law Dorene Weckerling; brothers-in-law, Floyd Bruntzel, Gordon Weckerling, and Dale Wittig.

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 14, 2026 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned with Father Tim Hickey and Father Patrick Otor, MSP officiating. Visitation will 1-7 p.m. Sunday, September 13th at Beckwith Mortuary with a vigil service and rosary at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Garfield Cemetery, Garfield, Kansas.

Memorials may be given to the Hospice of the Prairie in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.