Clayton Phillip "CP" Wambsganss, 79, of Sterling, passed away quietly in Sterling on June 14, 2011. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, June 17, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 18, at Trinity Lutheran Church, with the Rev. James R. Nash officiating. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery on June 18.

Clayton was born Sept. 1, 1931, in Chase County, Kan., to Phillip and Edith (Weichold) Wambsganss. He attended school in Cedar Point, Kan.

After graduating from high school in 1950, he went to work for General Moters and spent his entire career as a parts manager for that company. He started in Emporia, Kan., and ended up in Sterling, where he worked at Holloway's for about 45 years.

On June 9, 1967, he married Clara Maloney Weltz at First English Lutheran Church in Sterling.

Clayton and Clara spent their summers recently in Colorado and their winters at Lake Havasu. He will be missed by all and remembered fondly by anyone who knew him. Clayton never knew a stranger for very long!

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Clara Wambsganss of Sterling; daughters, Crystal Rinker and husband Roger of Hay Springs, Neb., Camala "Sky" Crouch and husband Alan of Denver; brother, Edwin Wambsganss and wife Eunice of Fountain Hills, Ariz.; two granddaugh-ters; four great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many wonderful friends.

Memorials are requested to the organization that helps cancer patients rebuild their learning skills, Foundation Think Again, 914 Westwood Blvd. No. 592, Los Angeles, CA 90024; or the American Cancer Society for childhood leukemia.