Paul Woellhof

Paul L. Woellhof, age 94, formerly of Miltonvale, passed away Thursday, August 19, 2021 at Medicalodges Fort Scott, KS.

He was born on June 3, 1927, the fourth child of Edwin and Stella Woellhof, on a farm 7 miles southeast of Clay Center, near Broughton, Kansas.

As a boy, Paul enjoyed living on the farm. His favorite pastimes were hunting and ice skating. Educationally, Paul spent his first 8 years at Mall Creek school. High school education was received at Miltonvale Wesleyan Academy. After that, he studied theology at Miltonvale Wesleyan College where he met Elinor Mae Titus from Iowa. On August 1, 1950 at the Wesleyan Church in Charles City, Iowa, he and Elinor were married. He attended the Clay Center Wesleyan Church with his parents and family. After their wedding, Paul and Elinor continued attending the same church with their children, until after they moved to a farm near Miltonvale in 1964.

He was a schoolteacher in Clay Center and Clay County Schools for 25 years with the last 14 years being in Special Education. He inspired his sister Rosalie to also teach special education. In the fall of 1950, Paul and Elinor began ministering on Sunday afternoons at the Faith Mission Chapel. Their children also helped him with the ministry. They continued at Faith Mission until 1997 when they turned their attention to other forms of ministry including pastoring the Junction City Free Methodist Church for three years. In 2009 they resumed ministry at Faith Mission. Over their lifetime, they were also involved with the Kansas State World Gospel Mission Prayer Band ministry. Before Elinor passed, they started Pray for America services, held at Faith Mission. Faith Mission is now under the direction of Clay Center’s, Common Ground Ministry, with a focus on helping disadvantaged individuals. This keeps in harmony with the focus Paul and Elinor had in their later years, through Faith Mission.

He is survived by two sons; Paul James Woellhof and wife Carol, of San Antonio, Texas; and Wesley Woellhof and wife Mary of Fort Scott, Kansas; one daughter, Charlotte Mattson and husband Eddy of Quincy, Washington; two sisters, Rosalie Shorman and Evangeline Swartz; eight grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren, three great great grandsons plus nieces and nephews.

Beside being preceded in death by his wife, Elinor, Paul was also preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Maxine Ossman and Edwinna Hall, and his brother David Woellhof.

Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, August 28, 2021 at the Clay Center Wesleyan Church with Pastor Ron Graham officiating.  The family will receive friends from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. Friday, August 27, at his viewing, at the Faith Mission Chapel, 723 Sherman St. in Clay Center. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery.

A memorial has been established for the Common Ground Faith Mission Ministry. Contributions may be left in care of the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home in Riley, Kansas.