Colleen "Connie" Marie Blevins

Colleen Marie “Connie” (Stamm) Blevins, 98, of Hiawatha, Kansas, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, July 31, 2026, at Maple Heights Nursing and Rehab Center.

Born on November 30, 1927, in Bush, Illinois, Connie was the second of eight children born to Ralph and Kate Stamm. She was raised with a strong work ethic, deep faith, and unwavering love for family—qualities that guided her throughout her remarkable 98 years.

During World War II, Connie worked in the Ford Motor Company plant in Dearborn, Michigan, where the factory had been converted to manufacture supplies essential to the war effort, producing everything from canteens to airplanes.

In 1946, while working at the PX in St. Louis, Missouri, she met Karl Laverentz. They were married on February 14, 1947, and together made their home in Hiawatha, Kansas, where they raised their children Karla and Dennis. Later in life they divorced and Connie married Bernie Blevins on December 27, 1988 until his death in 2006.

Connie had faithfully served at the First Baptist Church as a deaconess, treasurer, and Sunday School teacher, sharing her love of Christ through both her words and actions.

Connie was an accomplished bowler. She served as both a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader, helped organize Hiawatha’s first girl's softball league while also playing on the women’s softball team. She was a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi and Moila Temple, Noble Grande of Rebecca Lodge, and belonged to the Red Hat Society, the Classy Ladies, and Our Gang.

Connie was known for building numerous block and family floats for the Hiawatha Halloween parade. She loved traveling, shopping trips, decorating her home, dressing up, spending special days with ‘the girls.’ No adventure was too small if it meant making memories with family.

She worked at J.M. McDonald’s, the Redman Hotel, and later proudly owned and operated her own clothing boutique, ‘The Clothes Hanger’, where she enjoyed helping others look and feel their best.

Connie was preceded in death by her husband, Bernie Blevins; her parents, Ralph and Kate Stamm; her brothers: Lawrence and Clarence, and her sisters: Goldie, Velma, and Clara.

She is lovingly survived by her sisters: Lillie Owen of St. Louis, Missouri, and Jane Pierce of Du Quoin, Illinois; her daughter, Karla Schulenberg of Hiawatha; her son Dennis (Vickie) Laverentz of Hiawatha; six grandchildren: Brent Laverentz of Tyler, TX, Kyle Laverentz of Hiawatha, KS, Brandon (Jessica Parker of Firth, NE, Karman (Matt) Buhr of Weeki Wachee, FL, Jessica (Kenny) Williams of Hamilton, MO, and Bryton (Katherine Schulenberg, of Macon, GA; thirteen great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Connie’s greatest joy was her family. She never missed an opportunity to celebrate a birthday, cheer on a grandchild, or take a family trip.

Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. September 5, 2026, at First Baptist Church in Hiawatha. Pastor Michael Lehmann will officiate; assisted by Connie’s grandson.

Friends may call at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha Thursday and Friday preceding the service to sign the register book. The family will meet with friends one hour prior to services at Church.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Connie Blevins Memorial Fund to be designated later, sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434.

www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com

She will be forever loved, deeply missed, and always remembered.

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