John W. Kokenge, 81, of Seneca, Kansas, died early Tuesday morning, December 23, 2008 at the Nemaha Valley Hospital in Seneca.

John was born March 21, 1927 on a farm east of Baileyville to John and Anna (Deters) Kokenge. He lived in the Baileyville and Seneca communities all of his life. He attended Woodenshoe Country School and Seneca Public High School through his senior year in 1945. As a young man, he worked for Southwestern Bell and Kansas Power & Light. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on September 27, 1950 and served in the Signal Corps in Germany during the Korean Conflict. After serving his country he returned to Seneca in 1952 and worked as a journeyman lineman for KP&L.

He was proud of his service to his country and enjoyed being involved in veterans activities through the American Legion. His loved telling stories about his job as a lineman. He could get down a pole in three leaping steps. During one terrible snowstorm, he and the crew had to seek shelter overnight at Pearl Guggelman’s house. She fed them and they went back to work the next morning until the job was finished.

John met his lifelong sweetheart, Eileen Olberding, in 1953 and they were married on October 16, 1954 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. They had four children: Cindy, Jane, Jim and Christina.

After retirement from KP&L in 1989, John spent his time on his favorite hobbies, including fishing, woodworking, gardening and playing cards down at the Knights of Columbus hall. Many people have stories about fishing with John, but they would all say the thing he enjoyed the most was heading down to the west end to weigh them. He loved to fish, but he hated to eat them. He also loved restoring and making furniture, and spent many hours in the garden. But above all, he enjoyed spending time with his family.

John served his community as a Seneca city councilman from 1971 until 1980. He was a lifetime member and past commander for the Earle W. Taylor Post #21 of the American Legion and a lifetime member of the Seneca Memorial Post #7458 of the VFW. John was also a member and past union steward of the IBEW Local #304.

He is survived by his wife Eileen of the home; a son Jim Kokenge and wife Tammy of Topeka; three daughters, Cindy Kokenge of Hiawatha, Jane Taylor and husband Steve of Seneca, and Christina Lierz and husband Mike of Sabetha; eight grandchildren, Jessica Struzina and husband Chris of Kansas City, Drew Taylor and wife Michelle of Manhattan, Maggie Taylor of Kansas City, Jake Taylor of Seneca, Mitchell, Reese, Riley, and Caden Lierz of Sabetha; two brothers, Max Kokenge of Seneca, and Bob Kokenge and wife Gladys of Manhattan; and two sisters, Joan Parks of Seneca, and Mary and husband Jim Kramer of Lincoln, Nebraska.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Francis and Leander.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 AM Saturday, December 27, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Friday, December 26, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

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