Ada Marie Gaines, age 87, passed away May 27, 2011 at the Prairie Haven Nursing Home in Kensington, KS after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born June 2, 1923 on the Emme family homestead near Germantown to Louie and Maggie (Grauerholz) Emme. Ada was baptized into Christian faith on June 21, 1923 at the 1st St. John Lutheran Church, Germantown.

Ada attended grade school at Germantown through 8th grade and went on to high school at Kensington. She completed her freshman year, but due to an extended illness, was unable to graduate with her class. This was one of her biggest disappointments in life. She later went on to Minneapolis, Minnesota to a seamstress school and learned how to make her own patterns and excel in sewing. Ada could look at a picture and re-create it.

On November 7, 1948 she was united in marriage to Francis Gaines at 1st Lutheran Church, Phillipsburg, KS. Ada's parents moved to town and Francis and Ada moved to the family farm where they engaged in farming, operated a small dairy and reared their 5 children. They retired in 1996 and moved to Kensington.

Ada was very involved in the activities of 1st St. John Lutheran Church. She served as Church Guild President, was active on Altar Guild and had been a Sunday School Teacher and Bible School Teacher. In later years, she spent many Wednesdays quilting with other church ladies. Her children knew not to plan anything on Wednesdays--that was "quilting day". One of her last tasks she completed in April was to hand out her quilts to her children and grandchildren. One of Ada's accomplishments in life was teaching many of the girls north of Kensington how to sew-she was the Meadowlark 4-H Club Sewing Leader for several years. She also enjoyed Tuesday morning coffee with neighbors and attending Middle Cedar EHU and the Kensington Senior Community Center activities. She always liked having family and friends come to visit and entertaining her grandchildren. Even at age 87, she sat down on the floor and played with her great-grandchildren.

Ada was preceded in death by her husband Francis; parents Louie and Maggie Emme; 1 brother, August Emme, and her sister, Alma Bronson.

Survivors include 1 son, Tharran Gaines, and wife Barb, of Savannah MO, and 4 daughters, Janet Hosmann and husband Mel, Ridgedale MO; JoAnn Rice and husband Steve, Kensington, KS; Kathy Merklein and husband Paul, Prairie View, KS; and Linda Dettmer and husband Brian, Kensington KS

Also surviving are 10 grandchildren; Michael Gaines and wife Clarine, Springdale AR; Michelle Gaines, Lamar, MO; Steven Rice Jr. and wife Angel, Kensington KS; Staci Kearn and husband Ricky, Concordia, KS; Timothy Merklein and wife Jayme, Overland Park, KS; Christine Albrecht and husband Michael, Wichita, KS; Kyle Merklein and fiance Taylor Allen, Kansas City; Neal Dettmer and wife Lisa, Arlington, VA; Jordan Dettmer and wife Christina, Phillipsburg KS; and Larissa Dettmer, Kensington.

8 great-grandchildren survive. They are Johnathan Gaines, Kristal and Gracie Rice, Spencer, Tyler and Lyndzie Kearn, Erin Kearn, and Eric Kearn.

2 Brothers survive: Louis Emme and wife Jeri, Hutchinson, KS. and Doran (Bill) Emme and wife Joan, Hays KS, along with many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, 2011 in the First St. John Lutheran Church in Kensington with Pastor David Hutson officiating.

Burial will follow in the Germantown Cemetery, Smith County, Kansas.

Ada will lie in state from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday and from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg. The family will receive friends from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First St. John Lutheran Church, Kensington Senior Center or Hospice Services.