Theodore "Ted" Hubert Neuburger

Theodore “Ted” Hubert Neuburger died on Monday, October 25, 2021, at Delmar Gardens, Overland Park, KS. He was 94 years old. He lived with his daughter, Jo, in Cherryvale, KS.
Ted was born on Jan. 21, 1927, in Ellis, Kansas, the eighth of eleven children to Wenzel and Julia Neuburger, both immigrants from Austria prior to WWI.
He attended Brunerdale Seminary in Ohio for three years before graduating from Ellis High School in 1944.
After high school, he enlisted in the US Navy and served as an Aviation Radioman 3rd class in WWII from 1944-1946 and was in the Navy Reserve until 1954.
Ted met his future wife, Evelyn Mullins, while on leave at Turner Falls, OK. They were married in Ellis on Ted’s 20th birthday in 1947. Ted was a butcher in Ellis and Portis, KS. He was a salesperson in El Dorado, McPherson, and Hutchinson. Ted decided to become a baker which was his father’s occupation and purchased bakeries in Norton and Phillipsburg. After a few years he sold those and purchased a bakery in Pratt. Eventually, Ted went into the home improvement business before retiring.
For many years Ted traveled for work, so his weekends were family time. Saturdays he and Evelyn would go out to dinner, go bowling, or play bridge. Sundays after Mass, he would cook a large breakfast and spend time with the kids. They had lots of cookouts and kickball games, usually including many of the neighborhood children.
Ted and Evelyn had twelve children. They lost their first two sons shortly after birth. Then they had Loretta Dreiling (Gene), Hays, KS; Mike Neuburger (Mary), Lenexa, KS; Jo Neuburger, Cherryvale, KS; Larry Neuburger, Springfield, MO; Rick Neuburger (Cathy), Pratt, KS; Ted Neuburger (Mina), Auburn, KS; Rose Wirick (Randy), Stilwell, KS; Jean Ewing (Rob), Olathe, KS; Kristine Neuburger, Excelsior Springs, MO; and Jackie Harmon (Duke), Manhattan, KS.
They were blessed with 20 grandchildren: Heather Neuburger (Andrew), Brooklyn, NY; Julie Neuburger, Springfield, MO; Jenny Neuburger, Pratt, KS; Aaron Neuburger (Olivia), Republic, MO; Stephanie Neuburger (Nathan), Liberal, MO; Erica Hart, Lawrence, KS; Emily Dreiling (Mac), Chantilly, VA; Adam Ewing (Tracie), McKinney, TX; Tim Wirick (Louise), Overland Park, KS; Billy Neuburger (Jaime), Bozeman, MT; Jake Dreiling, Thailand; Andy Wirick (Nicole), Newtown, NJ; Brad Neuburger (Stephanie), Nixa, MO; Luke Neuburger (Sara), Olathe, KS; Carly Wirick, Stilwell, KS; Teddi Lewis (Brian), Pinkney, MI; Zach Harmon (Callie/fiancé), Denver, CO; Kelly Akins (Chris), Olathe, KS; Anna Hrebec (Alex), Maryville, MO, and Eli Theodore Harmon, Topeka, KS. They also had two step granddaughters, Caitlin Ingham, Olathe, KS and Sarah Ingham, Chicago, IL.
Those twenty grandchildren gave Ted and Evelyn 29 great grandchildren: Lana and Georgia; Will and Cara; Everett and Harrison; Wesley and soon-to-born Margie; Sheridan; Kelea, Addyson, and Emma; Zoee, Christian, and Aden; August and Maggie; Natalie and Jaden; Kennedy, Quinn, and McKayla; William; Alexa and Nora; Evelyn and Abraham; and Emmitt and soon-to-be born, Stella. They had one great, great grandson, Greyson.
Uncle Teddy had many nieces and nephews who loved him and were loved in return.
Ted was a devout Catholic, baptized at birth, confirmed with the name Francis, and attended a seminary for three years considering becoming a priest. He served on the school board for St. Teresa’s grade and high school in Hutchinson. At his death he was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Cherryvale. He never went to sleep before kneeling beside his bed and saying his prayers aloud. Ted prayed the Rosary daily.
Ted loved all sports, especially baseball, which he played for years. He followed the Detroit Tigers/Lions/Pistons/Redwings, KU basketball, and was passionate about Notre Dame football. He was an avid golfer and taught his wife to play. They often played together and traveled with their clubs in case there was a course nearby. He last played with Susan Neuburger, his former daughter-in-law, but had to give it up due to his failing eyesight. His other favorite pastime was fishing. His last fishing adventure was with his son-in-law Duke Harmon two years ago.
His memory was amazing. Ted knew his high school classmates, almost every neighbor he ever had, friends past and present, business associates, sailors from the Navy, and stories for each of them. He spent many hours reminiscing and then keeping track of them using the Internet.
Ted was preceded in death by his parents Julia and Wenzel; sisters Marie Helget, Dorothy Rupp, Janet Giannone; and brothers Joseph, Edward, Arthur, Norbert, Arnold, Richard, and Ernest. He lost his daughter, Kris, in 1990 and son, Larry, in 2013. Evelyn, Ted’s beloved wife of 67 years, passed away in 2014 .
Memorials are suggested to the Pratt Public Library in honor of his wife’s love of reading.
A Rosary will be held on Sunday, Nov. 7, at 6:00 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Cherryvale, KS. Visitation will be from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the church hall following the Rosary. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, Nov. 8, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Francis Church.
Cremation has taken place and internment will be in Pratt next to his wife at a later date.