Kenneth Dale Springer, 77, a former Osawatomie resident, died Sunday, May 19, 2002 at his home in Offerle, Kan.

He was born June 17, 1924, in Arkansas City, Kan., and was the son of William and Amy Azumbla Stegall. He attended schools in Arakansas City before the family moved to Osawatomie in 1941, where he attended Osawatomie High School in the spring of that year.

He served with the U.S. army during World War II, enlisting in 1943 in Leavenworth. He became a member of the 733rd R.O.B. as a steam locomotive fireman. He attended a steam locomotive school in Van Buren, Ark., for a week and worked for a week on the Missouri Pacific Railroad before being sent overseas.

After the war, he returned to Osawatomie and completed his senior year in 1947 at Osawatomie High School.

He and Thelma Maxine Stone were married in 1947 in Osawatomie. They moved to Great Bend, Kan., in 1949.

Mr. Springer began working for Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America in 1951. He was transferred to the 193 Plant in Offerle in 1969. He retired from the company after 35 years of service.

He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church of Offerle, and served as church elder for a year and as head elder for five years. He was a member of the Osawatomie High School Alumni Association.

Those preceding him in death were a brother and two granddaughters.

Survivors include his wife, Thelma Springer of Offerle; two daughters, Linda Sue DeBey of Cawker City, Kan., and Nancy Lynn Kregar of Offerle; three sons, Michael Wayne Springer of Dodge City, Kan., Terry Lee Springer of Omaha, Neb., and Jerry Dee Springer of Lewis, Kan.; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Services were today (Wednesday) at the church, followed by burial in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Offerle.