Florence Kohake
Florence Kohake, 84, of Kelly, died Thursday morning, June 21, 2007,
at the Olathe Medical Center in Olathe, KS after being recently diagnosed
with cancer.
Florence
was born September 6, 1922, on a farm west of St. Benedict, KS, the
daughter of Henry G. and Ida Gellhaus Hulsing. She graduated from St.
Mary’s High School in St. Benedict in 1940. After graduation,
she worked as a housekeeper with families in the Atchison and Kansas
City areas. On August 18, 1943, she married Ernest Kohake. The couple
made their home on a farm east of Kelly. Her husband preceded her in
death on November 2, 1965, and Florence continued on raising her four
young daughters into strong and capable women.
After her husband’s death, Florence
served as housekeeper for Father Vincent Wavada O.S.B. at St. Bede’s
Parish. She was very involved with her church and spent a great deal
of time decorating the altar with fresh flowers. She was a sacristan
for over 35 years, in addition to being a member of St. Ann’s
Altar Society. Florence also volunteered at the Sts. Peter & Paul
Mission Center and for the Nemaha County Bloodmobile. She was an avid
quilter, embroiderer and gardener. Florence was a willing worker, an
outstanding cook, and a charitable woman who was genuinely nice. She
was an excellent neighbor who will be missed tremendously.
She is survived by four daughters, Joan
Kohake of Council Grove, Mariana Kemper of Logan, Marcia Brockus of
Spring Hill and Monica Haug of Seneca; four brothers, Victor, Bernard,
and Joseph Hulsing, all of Seneca, and Henry Hulsing of Topeka; four
sisters, Henrietta Holthaus and Marceline Meyer of Axtell, Mildred Kohake
of Goff and Ida Rose Wichman of Kelly; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Besides her husband Ernest, she was preceded
in death by four siblings, Celestine “Sally” Hulsing, Elsa
McGuire, Mary C. Stallbaumer and Emil Hulsing.
Mass of Christian Burial will be on 10
AM Saturday, June 23, at St. Bede’s Church in Kelly. Burial will
be in St. Bede's Cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Friday
at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Memorials may be given for St. Bede’s
Church or the Sts. Peter & Paul Mission Center, and can be sent
in care of the family.