Eleanor A. Kohake, 82, of Seneca, KS, died Sunday evening, September 28, 2008 at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

Eleanor was born June 26, 1926 to J.C. and Emma Rottinghaus Ronnebaum on the family farm southwest of Seneca. She grew up there and attended Pikney School and Sts. Peter & Paul High School. She worked at Strathman Department Store on Main St. in Seneca.

Eleanor married Vincent Kohake on June 9, 1948 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. The couple lived south of Baileyville a short time before moving southeast of Seneca. Vincent died suddenly on July 7, 1965, leaving her to raise their five daughters.

She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church and St. Ann’s Altar Society at teh church in Seneca. She volunteered at Sts. Peter & Paul School library and Crestview Manor care home. Her joy was taking care of her five daughters and her grandchildren. She also took pleasure in sewing, embroidering, and completing word search puzzles.

She will be missed by her daughters, Vicky Abel (Lester) of Buffalo, MO, Debra Holthaus (Kurt) of Seneca, D’Ann Hermesch (Wayne) of Seneca, Amy Minnis (Stephen) of Atchison, KS, and Renee Washburn (Richard) of Overland Park, KS; her brothers, Leonard and Linus Ronnebaum, both of Seneca; her sisters, Dorothy Dwerlkotte of Wichita and Marie Dwerlkotte of Beattie; 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Timothy G. Kohake on June 17, 1961; and her brother, Melvin A. Ronnebaum on August 12, 1998.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM Wednesday, October 1, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Tuesday, September 30, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given in Eleanor’s memory for Sts. Peter & Paul Church, and sent in care of the family.