Agnes I. (Karlin) Sanders, age 94 years, longtime Great Bend, Kan. resident, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday morning, Jan. 17, 2026.  Agnes was born on Jan. 20, 1931, at Catherine, Kan., to Frank A. and Elizabeth (Schueler) Karlin. She was united in marriage to Donald L. Sanders on Feb. 3, 1949 at Catherine, Kan. He died on March 7, 2019. They moved to Great Bend in 1955 and she remained active in the family electrical business established in 1975, until closing shop in 2023.

She was a longtime member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend. Over the years, Agnes was active in Altar Society, Catholic Social Service, fostering over 50 infants and children, and was one of the founding board members of the Family Crisis Center.

Agnes is survived by three sons, Richard Sanders of Arlington, Texas, John Sanders (Lori) and Mike Sanders (Jeanette) of Great Bend, Kan.; two daughters, Sheila Helm of Great Bend, Kan., and Julia Novak (Phillip) of Pleasant Hill, Calif.; 11 grandchildren, Jannea Wright, Kevin Kowalsky, Michael Sanders, Kyle Kowalsky, Rachel Shorter, Trevor Sanders, Sara Potter, Takowa Sanders, Cyandra Mong, Katia Novak, and Zoe Novak; 10 great-children; one sister, Betty Burchfield of Rockport, Texas.  Agnes was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; one daughter, Terri Kowalsky; son-in-law, Mark Helm; seven brothers and one sister.

Agnes’ wishes were to be cremated and there will be no visitation. A joint graveside inurnment service for Agnes and Don will take place at St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kan., on Feb. 21, 2026, at 1 p.m. The family has requested that memorial contributions be designated to the St. Fidelis Cemetery Fund at Victoria, Kan., in care of Spellman-Christians Funeral Home, 2115 Washington St., Great Bend, KS 67530. Condolences online may be left at wwww.spellmanchristiansfuneralhome.com.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Spellman-Christians Funeral Home

2115 Washington St.

Great Bend, KS 67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Jan. 31,2026