Laura A. Tinkel, age 94, died Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington, Kansas. She was born February 19, 1920 in Barton County, Kansas the daughter of Joseph and Mathilda (Beran) Birzer. A homemaker and farmwife, Laura was a lifelong area resident. She attended St. Peter and Paul Catholic School. On November 27, 1945 she married Albert P. Tinkel at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in rural Ellinwood, Kansas. He preceded her in death on January 31, 2006. Laura was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Altar Society both in Claflin. She enjoyed baking, cooking, gardening and needle work. Survivors include one son, Louis Tinkel and wife Janice of Hays, Kansas; two daughters, Arlene Friedly and husband Douglas of Bonner Springs, Kansas; and Alvita Cates and husband Bob of Claflin, Kansas; six sisters, Clara Bahr, Margaret Reichuber, Eleanor Penka, Cecilia Denning, Inez Giessel, and Bertha Achatz and husband Milton; one sister-in-law, Leona Birzer; six grandchildren, Shawn Tinkel and wife Tina, Shannon Short and husband Levi, Duane Friedly and wife Amy, Dawn Pretz and husband Ben, Trevor Cates and wife Megan, and Tamara Dody and husband Jason, and seventeen great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, George Birzer, infant August Birzer, Albert Birzer, Robert Birzer, and James Birzer; six sisters, Mary Birzer, Anna Penka, Katie Birzer, Elizabeth Ohnmacht, infant Emma Birzer, and Helen Schartz. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 25, 2014 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Claflin with Father Daryl Olmstead as celebrant. Burial will follow at Claflin Cemetery. Vigil service followed by an Altar Society rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Friends may call on Thursday, April 24, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Memorials are suggested to St. Peter and Paul Heritage Association or Clara Barton Hospital Foundation in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, Kansas 67544.