Eldon & Esther Kater

Eldon LaRoy Kater began his life with a home birth on the 2nd generation farm south of Newton, KS on May 4, 1930. His 93 year journey on earth concluded on December 6, 2023 in the Wichita home of his and Esther’s only child Teresa and her husband Tim Cornett. His two younger brothers are continuing on lifes journey, Glenn living in Kansas City and Irvin still living on the family farm (as a third generation owner) in the same house all three were born in.

Esther Kater (Grundman) began her life also with a home birth on a farm on November 5, 1925 in the area of Moundridge and Valley Center. Esther was the middle child with two older brothers, Milton and Hilburt then two younger brothers, Walter and Harvy. All the brothers preceded her in her passing. Esther went into hospice care where she concluded her long 98 year journey on December 10, 2023 while in their compassionate care. Eldon and esther spent their last remaining months living together with their only child Teresa and her husband Tim Cornett in their home in Wichita.

Both Eldon and Esther spent their childhoods growing up on farms with no electricity (kerosene lamps/wood burn stoves in the kitchen). No indoor plumbing or running water (outside hand pump for water/outhouse (winter??). Walking two miles to the one room schoolhouse – (winter?). Since the Kater farm in still in the family, Eldon, Esther, and Teresa spent all of their lives traveling Rock Road from Mulvane to the farm, on Rock Road south of Newton, almost every weekend. We all hold cherished memories helping with wheat harvest in the summer, wienie roasts in the fall and of spending the night on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on the farm.

Esther attended Bethel College in Newton for one year in 1943. She briefly lived in Wichita where one of her part time jobs was as a elevator operator at Ines Department Store. Then moving back to Newton and working at the local bookstore where she then met Eldon.

Eldon, after completing high school, went to Spartan College of Aeronautics in Oklahoma and obtained his Airframe & Powerplant Certification. While there he also received his pilot’s license and certified parachute packer accreditations. On one of his visits home he went to the Newton bookstore to ask a girl he was interested in out for a date. Esther was working that day but the girl he was interested in had the day off, so Eldon asked Esther to go out instead – like the story book the rest is history!

1950 Eldon and Esther married. They rented an apartment in Newton for a brief time. Eldon went to work for Boeing Company as an inspector and they bought their first house in Mulvane where they lived for the next 73 years. In 1952 Eldon entered the Air Force and was lucky enough to be permanently stationed at McConnell Air Force Base where he served four years in Wichita. Lucky them – their home in Mulvane – drive ROCK ROAD to work – drive ROCK ROAD to visit the family farm! In 1954 their daughter was born at McConnell Air Force Base on ROCK ROAD! For those of you who don’t know the base hospital was in 1954 and is still to this day located next to ROCK ROAD! Teresa and Tim’s Wichita home of 35 years is not far from – ROCK ROAD!

Eldon and Esther’s life of 73 years was packed full of lifelong friendships/groups they’ve belonged to/home improvements/hobbies/travel. There is not one single blade of grass growing on the path of life the both of them blazed together.

Eldon in their back yard hand built a two car garage with work shop and with a buddy hand dug a pit so he could work under the cars standing up. Built a charcoal grill out of silverdale stone in the back yard. Remodeled their tiny 2 bedroom 1 bath 1 car garage house into a 3 bedroom 1-1/2 baths expanded living room with added back porch later converted to a enclosed family room. Hand built a 13 foot Windmill Class sailboat in the garage. Restored a 1937 Ford. Hand built a grandfather clock. Hand dug his own water well. Made his own wine. He spent two years taking night classes at WSU but was unable to complete enough hours for a degree.

Esther was a dedicated homemaker but had other talents and interests of her own. She was a beloved Girl Scout leader for her daughter and other Mulvane girls from Brownies through Cadets. Being an excellent seamstress Esther sewed all of her daughter’s clothes, crocheting sweaters and vests as well as all of the clothes for her dolls. Crafted framed silk flower announcements for weddings, baby, anniversaries. She hand sewed greeting cards for every occasion plus their yearly Christmas cards. She made baby quilts for the Project Linus. Crocheted and sewed hats for Victory In The Valley.

Eldon and Esther were busy with all of the above while at the same time – regularly going to the farm, SHARING LIFE WITH FRIENDS, camping/fishing, SHARING LIFE WITH FRIENDS, square dancing, SHARING LIFE WITH FRIENDS, church and SHARING LIFE WITH FRIENDS.

Eldon retired from Boeing in 1986. Now it’s the Class A Motor Home – summers in Colorado/winters in Texas with FRIENDS, square dancing with FRIENDS, golfing with FRIENDS, fixed up the 1937 Ford again – repaint to change colors add more embellishments, travel to other countries and go on cruises with FRIENDS, build another grandfather clock, sail a 35 foot sailboat with another couple down the coast of California to the Baja peninsula, sharing life with FRIENDS, as a member of the local Hamm Radio club, helped daughter to fix up their house, sharing life with FRIENDS, Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festivals, remodeled the 2 car garage to store the motorhome in and sharing life with FRIENDS.

They did finally slow down when they hit their 90’s. Trips to church became more infrequent and they could only go to the senior center for lunch three times a week. Their long time Mulvane friend would take them out to lunch frequently or another one would come and fix Eldon’s computer. Their church friends would drop by to check in on them. Any time they could be with a FRIEND no matter how short the visit was always deeply appreciated by them. Thank you to all of you. Each and every one of their FRIENDS are deeply cherished to this day by Eldon and Esther.

Eldon and Esther spent their last remaining months living together with their only child Teresa and her husband Tim in Wichita, continuing to be by each others side holding hands till almost the very end, briefly letting go, only to reach out and reunite again for the next long and active journey with ALL their FRIENDS on the other side.

(p.s. there is no rest in peace for Eldon and Esther……they’re busy!!!)

THE END

A Celebration of Life reception will be held from 11am to Noon on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church in Derby. In lieu of any flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Alzheimer's Association or to Phoenix Home Care & Hospice.