ELLINWOOD — LeRoy N. Thill, 89, passed away May 3rd at Ellinwood District Hospital. Born in Ellinwood, Kan. on March 22, 1936 he was the son of Wilfred P. and Bertha E. (Koehler) Thill. A lifetime Ellinwood resident LeRoy attended St. Joseph School and Ellinwood High School. LeRoy graduated from EHS in 1954 later working at the Ellinwood Leader, Roberts Printing in Hutchinson, and Whelan Printing before buying the latter in 1967 and establishing Thill Printing Co. He married Sharla Schawe at St. Rose Church in Great Bend, Kan. on Dec. 27, 1958. 

LeRoy dedicated 45 years as a basketball coach at St. Joseph School where he impacted countless lives. He continued on to coach middle and high school Tennis for 18 more years. LeRoy will leave a legacy of hard work, kindness, and of a respected

coach who truly cared about his players.

Survivors include wife, Sharla Thill, Ellinwood, Kan.: six children, Mark (Sheila) Thill, Overland Park, Kan., Mary (Brian) Elliott, Great Bend, Kan., Tony (Heather) Thill, Overland Park, Kan., Michael (Ginger) Thill, Ellinwood, Kan., Julie (Chris) Lewis, Lewisville, Texas, Jean (Richard) Doll, Ellinwood, Kan. Other survivors include 18 grandchildren, Anna (Jay) Crenwelge, Steven (Holly) Thill, Jackie (Jacob) Hertel, Michael (Chelsea) Elliott, Matthew (Andy) Elliott, Beth Anne (Trent) Musgrove;

Kate (Alexander) Tarvardian, Alex Thill; Abby (Robert) Anderson, Lauren Jackson, Mary Beth Thill, Ava Thill, Brady (Erin) Lewis, Austin Lewis, Sydney Lewis, Rachel (Ben) Schneider, Mason Doll, Daphne Doll; and 17 great grandchildren; one sister, Dorothy Wilson of Tulsa, Okla. LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Bill and Jerry Thill; and sister, Gloria Hickel.

Funeral Mass will take place 10:30 a.m., Thursday May 8th at St. Joseph Catholic Church, where he was an active member, with Father Klein officiating. Interment will follow at Lakin-Comanche Cemetery, Ellinwood. Visitation will take place noon-5 p.m., Wednesday May 7th at Minnis Chapel in Ellinwood followed by parish Vigil Service that evening at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph Church. Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Endowment Fund or St. Joseph School in care of Minnis Chapel, PO Box 246, Ellinwood, KS.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Minnis Chapel

PO Box 246

Ellinwood, KS.  67526

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, May, 6 2025