Cyril J. ‘Cy’ Ulmen, 87, Assaria, Kansas

Cyril J.”Cy” Ulmen, 87, of Assaria, Kans.. passed away Nov. 12, 2021 at Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, Kans.
Cy was born on January 18,1934 in Mankato, to Martin Joseph and Lucille (Prom) Ulmen. He had two brothers, Martin John Ulmen, Jr. and Norbert Ulmen, five sisters, Patricia (Ulmen) Juenemann, Mary Ann (Ulmen) Bently, Iona (Ulmen) Widmer, Theresa (Ulmen) Widmer and Barbara (Ulmen) Gehrke.
Cy graduated from Loyola High School in Mankato, in 1952.
His first 20 years were spent on the family farm. When Cy left the farm he was drafted into the Air Force serving for 20 years, stationed in five foreign countries and eight states as a teletype installer, serviceman and supervisor.
Cy married Barbara Smith on April 21, 1956. They had three children, Thayer, Timothy and Lucinda. After 20 years of military service he went to work for the Kipp School and Assaria High School.
He then worked for Great Plains Manufacturing for 20 years in Salina and then 10 years for the Renaissance Cafe in Assaria.
He loved singing with the Bethany Messiah Chorus for 25 years and a special memory was singing at Carnegie Hall in New York City with the Messiah Chorus. Along with many other singing groups, he was a member of the Assaria Lutheran Church Choir and the Silver Tones Chorus which traveled to many nursing homes.
Cy loved gardening and for many years had a good size garden, which in later years included flowers. His love for gardening resulted in him becoming a “Master Gardener.” Cy was also an active member of the Assaria Lions Club as well as the McPherson Gem & Mineral Club.
At the Assaria Lutheran Church, Cy was Social Ministry chairman for many years. He enjoyed recruiting music groups, vocal and instrumental, for Service and Song each year to support many worthy causes.
Friendship was important to Cy, he was a friend to many at Bethany Home along with the Salina, Assaria and Lindsborg communities, he was a stranger to none. He is survived by his daughter Lucinda (Sheldon) Nelson and grandson Wes; Son Timothy Ulmen and grandson T.J. (Tegan) Ulmen; great-grandson Quincy; granddaughter Emily (Jacob) Enz; granddaughter Ryan Ulmen; great-grandson Tristen Bacon; brother Norbert Ulmen and sisters Theresa Widmer and Patricia Juenemann.
Cy was preceded in death by his parents, wife Barbara, son Thayer Ulmen, daughter-in-law Kara Ulmen, brother Martin J. Ulmen Jr., sisters, Mary Ann Bentley, Iona Widmer and Barbara Gehrke.
Cy would like to thank everyone who shared with him through the good times and encouraged him through the more difficult times.
There will be a memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 28, 2022, at the Fairview Cemetery in Hayfield.
Blessed be his memory.
To share a special memory or condolence please, visit www.czaplewskifuneralhomes.com
Czaplewski Family Funeral Homes, 501 2nd Street NW, Hayfield.