Verle R Grittman

Verle Rudolf Grittman, 88, Glasco, Kansas, died Sunday, March 8, 2026, at The Nicol Home, Glasco.

Verle was born January 2, 1938, to Rudolf Henry and Anna Virl (Amspacker) Grittman at the family homestead south of Glasco where they lived along the Solomon River until the 1951 flood. Verle was raised in the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and was a 1956 graduate of Glasco High School.

Following graduation, Verle worked for Western Electric, Salina, installing telephone equipment for Southwestern Bell. In July of 1957, he joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at Brookley A.F.B. in Mobile, Alabama, and Glasgow A.F.B. in Glasgow, Montana, where he repaired instrument panels on McDonnell F-101 Voodoo fighter jets. After 4 years of service, Verle was honorably discharged and returned to work with Western Electric.

On April 28, 1963, Verle married Judith Elaine St. Clair in Iola, Kansas, before moving to Independence, Missouri, to work for Xerox as a Customer Service Engineer, a position he would hold for 36 years. In 1969, Verle was transferred to Salina where he and Judy raised their family: David and Ruth Ann. Verle and Judy celebrated 35 years of marriage before her death in 1998. Verle married Marlene (Shay) Heidrick on May 6, 1999, and they celebrated 26 years of marriage while making their home in Glasco.

Verle served as an Assistant Scout Master with the Boy Scouts of America Troop #1, Salina, and was a member of the Salina Good Sam’s Camping Club.

Verle was preceded in death by an infant son, his parents Rudy and Anna, brothers Neil Grittman (infant) and Elden (Dixie) Grittman; sister Bernetha DeLisle; brother-in-law Kenneth St. Clair; sisters-in-law DeAnn Huhn and Susan Owens, and stepsons Alan Heidrick and Andy Heidrick.

He is survived by his wife Marlene of the home, son David and wife Nicole, Berryton; daughter Ruth Ann Zimmer and husband Kevin, Hays; granddaughters Morgan (Andy) Hewett, Andover, Makinze Grittman, Manhattan, Kassandra Zimmer LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and Ashlyn Zimmer, Hays; great grandchildren Blakely and Aidan Hewett; brothers-in-law Stephen (Noelle) St. Clair, Topeka, Michael Huhn, Leavenworth and Richard Owens, Humboldt, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 20, 2026, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 102 S. Haynes, Glasco, with the funeral following at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at the Glasco City Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to The Nicol Home, Meadowlark Hospice or the Church.