Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Lavene E. "Beanie" Koch
Lavene E. "Beanie" Koch, 72, of Loveland, Colorado, formerly of Seneca, Kansas, died Sunday, July 28, 2002, at a Loveland care home. She moved to Loveland in February 2000 to be near her daughter.
She was born October 30, 1929, at St. Benedict, Kansas, the daughter of Herman and Emma Vondemkamp Dick. She grew up on the family farm and was the third oldest of twelve children. She graduated from St. Mary's High School at St. Benedict in 1948. She attended Marymount College in Salina, Kansas, and St. Anthony's Hospital School of Nursing where she received her nursing diploma in 1951. After taking the Kansas State Board, she became a registered nurse.
On December 27, 1951, she married
Cyril J. Koch at St. Mary's Church, St. Benedict. They lived in various locations in Kansas in their early-married years due to Cyril's construction work. In 1964 they moved to Seneca. "Beanie" began working at the Seneca Hospital in March of 1964. She continued work at the new hospital, the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca, until her retirement in May 1995 after 31 years of employment as a registered nurse and several years as the day supervisor. Her husband, Cyril, preceded her in death on May 18, 1995. She was also preceded in death by a son, Johnny Koch, who died at birth on December 26, 1952.
She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church and the St. Ann's Altar Society at the church, the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital Guild, where she was a past president as well as holding other offices, the Seneca Memorial Post #7458 of the Veteran's of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, and the Kidney Foundation. She was an accomplished seamstress and quilter. "Beanie" made many quilts for her family including a quilt for each grandchild. She also crocheted, embroidered, and enjoyed ceramics. "Beanie" and Cyril always had a large garden and grew a large crop of strawberries. She and her sisters traveled throughout the U.S. together.
Survivors are three sons, Roger Koch of Lawrence, KS, Jeff Koch of Colorado Springs, CO and Steve Koch of Topeka, KS; a daughter, Cyrilla Haverkamp of Loveland, CO; a brother, Joe Dick of Monck's Corner, SC; and five sisters, Valeria Edwards of Goodland, KS, Norene Haynes of Wichita, KS, Lucille Winkler of Oneida, KS, Alice Rumsey of Topeka, KS, and Linda Baughman of Hendersonville, NC; and ten grandchildren.
Besides her husband and son, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Omar Dick and Orville Dick and three sisters, Joan Dick, Norma Tsuglis, and Edna Krogman.
The mass of Christian burial will be 10 A.M. Thursday, August 1, 2002, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. The burial will be in St. Mary's ChurchCemeteryat St. Benedict. The rosary will be prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca on Wednesday at 2 and 7 P.M. She will lie in state at the funeral home after 4 P.M. Tuesday.
Memorials may be given to the Polycystic Kidney Foundation or the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital Guild and sent in care of the family.
Lawrence J. Koch
Lawrence J. Koch, 92, of Seneca, Kansas, died July 11, 2002, at Country View Estates Care Home in Seneca.
He was born July 5, 1910, at the farm home of his parents, William and Mary Holan Koch, southwest of Centralia, Kansas. He was baptized in the Catholic faith at Coal Creek Catholic Church.
He was the last surviving grandson of John and Mary Wilibritz Koch who helped establish and build St. Mary's Church in St. Benedict, Kansas. Lawrence attended rural grade schools in the Centralia area. Lawrence's father, William Koch, Sr., died in 1923. Lawrence, at the age of 15 in 1925, assumed responsibility for managing the family farm and supporting his mother and two younger sisters.
On June 2, 1943, he was married
to Lorena Wessel at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville, Kansas, by Fr. Grosdidier. She survives of the home.
Lawrence was a farmer and stockman in Nemaha County for all but six years of his career, when the family lived and farmed northwest of Axtell in Marshall County. He and Lorena retired from farming in 1974 and moved to Seneca where they cared for E.N. "Dick" Erickson in his home at Seneca for 8-1/2 years.
Lawrence suffered a severe stroke in October of 1991. Lorena cared for him
in their home in Terrace Heights Apartments until April of 1999 when he
entered Country View Care Home.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca and the St. Joseph Society. He was a former member of St. Michael's Church in Axtell.
Survivors besides his wife of 59 years, Lorena, are their son, Maurice Koch of Meriden, Kansas; their daughter, Rose Mary Altenhofen of Tonganoxie, Kansas; a sister, Lucy Deters of Seneca; and nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Besides his parents he was preceded in death by brothers, Wancel, William Jr., Andrew, Louis, and Ralph; sisters, Lena Barber, Florence Feldkamp, and Gertrude Droge.
Mass of the resurrection in celebration of Lawrence's life will be Saturday at 8:30 A.M. at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in Sacred HeartCemeteryat Baileyvillle, Kansas. The rosary will be prayed at 2 P.M. Friday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, with a vigil prayer service at 7 P.M. that evening.
Memorial contributions may be given for the Seneca E.M.T. Association or Sts. Peter & Paul School or to the donor's choice, and sent in care of the family.
Linus B. "Lenny" Koch
Linus B. “Lenny” Koch, 74, Seneca, died Friday, October 8, 2004, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. He had been in failing health and had been on kidney dialysis for two years.
He was born March 1, 1930, on a farm north of Baileyville, the son of Frank H. and Frances M. Rusche Koch. Lenny attended Sacred Heart School in Baileyville and worked on the family farm.
On February 28, 1959, he married
Carol Beckman at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. They lived on the family farm three years and in Axtell for five years. In 1969 they bought the family homestead where they lived, farmed, and operated a dairy. He loved horses, especailly breaking them, and always had horses on the farm. He also had a sawmill on his farm where his sons Dan and Jim became interested in woodworking and cabinet making with their dad’s help. This was instrumental in later years when Dan and Jim started Koch and Company, now a major industry in Seneca. Besides farming he bought cattle in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Colorado for Bill Wiebe of Summerfield. His latest hobby was raising dogs and selling them.
In September of 2002, he and Carol moved into Seneca. Lenny helped his sons at Koch and Company, and was a delivery driver for them.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, the St. Joseph Society at the church in Seneca, and a former member of Sacred Heart Church. He was a lifetime member of the National Pony Express Association.
Survivors are his wife, Carol of the home; five sons, Dan, Jim, Brian, and Barry of Seneca, and Doug of Baileyville; three daughters, Kita Koch, Brenda Bennett, Shelly Rilinger, all of Seneca; two brothers, Fred Koch of Fairway and Frank Koch of Beattie; and sixteen grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by six brothers, William, Leo, Paul, Alvin, Sylvester, and Raymond Koch; and a sister, Irene Fangman.
The mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Monday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. The burial will be in Sacred HeartCemeteryin Baileyville. He will lie in state at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca after 8:30 A.M. Sunday where a prayer service will be conducted at 2 P.M. and the rosary will be prayed at 7 P.M.
Memorials may be given for the Kansas Dialysis Center, Sabetha, KS, or for the Pony Express Museum, Seneca, and sent in care of the family.
Renee A. Koch
Renee A. Koch, 28, Baileyville, KS, died early Sunday, November 21, 2004, west of St. Benedict, KS, as the result of a two-car accident.
She was born May 23, 1976, at Seneca, the daughter of William F. “Scottie” Jr. and Elsie Mohrman Scott. The family lived at St. Benedict. She attended B&B Schools and graduated from high school in 1994. During high school, she was a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Youth Organization, and played basketball, volleyball, and softball. Renee attended a Manhattan Vocational School for a year studying art design. From 1995 to 2000 she was employed as a secretary at the Seneca Family Practice, and at the present time was employed at Teddy Bear Child Care in Seneca.
On September 13, 1997, she married
Douglas Koch at St. Mary’s Church, St. Benedict. They lived on a farm two miles west of Seneca for five years before moving to the Koch homestead north of Baileyville two years ago.
She was a member of Sacred Heart Church at Baileyville and the Altar Society at the church. Renee was close to all her family and enjoyed watching her nieces and nephews sporting events.
Survivors are her husband, Douglas and two sons, Colton, 3 1/2 and Preston 1 1/2 of the home; two brothers, Leon Scott and Michael Scott both of Seneca; six sisters, Jeanette Holsapple, Marysville, Linda Schmelzle, Betty Kohake and Carol Wilhelm, all of Seneca, Marilyn Kohake of Axtell, and Elaine Ronnebaum of Lenexa.
She was preceded in death by her father on January 14, 1990, and her mother on April 7, 1998.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. The burial will be in the church cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca at 2 and 7 P.M. Tuesday where she will lie in state after 8:30 A.M. Tuesday.
Memorials may be given for the Colton and Preston Koch Education Fund and sent in care of sent in care of Baileyville State Bank, P.O. Box 230, Seneca, KS, 66538.
Vincent P. Koch
Vincent P. Koch, 90, of Axtell, Kansas, died late Monday, March 26, 2001, at Country View Estates Care Home in Seneca. He had been a resident there since November of 1997.
He was born January 19, 1911, on a farm north of Baileyville, on the John P. Koch homestead, the son of John P. and Carolyn M. Eisenbarth Koch. Vince grew up there and attended a rural school and Sacred Heart School at Baileyville. His mother died when he was 10 years old.
On January 19, 1937, he married
Helen B. Hulsing at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville, Kansas. They lived and farmed north of Baileyville until 1958 when they moved to a farm northwest of Axtell. In 1968 they moved into Axtell, where from 1968 to 1973 he worked for the Marshall County Road and Bridge Department. He and his wife, Helen, cleaned St. Michael's Church from 1968 to 1983. They were the custodians for St. Michael's School from 1974 to June of 1990.
He was a member of St. Michael's Church at Axtell and a former of member of Sacred Heart Church at Baileyville.
Survivors are his wife, Helen of the home in Axtell; seven sons, John Koch of Baileyville, Francis Koch of Holton, KS, Ralph Koch, Leroy Koch, Carl Koch, and Roger Koch all of Axtell, Michael of Lindsborg, KS; seven daughters, Verita Schmitz of Baileyville, Edna Lackey of KS. City, KS, Mary Kramer of Grand Junction, CO, Alice Porting and JoAnn Porting both of Axtell, Barbara Korte of Goff, KS, Sharon Skalla of Beattie; 47 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, 13 step great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren. .
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Cecelia Rose Koch on December 19, 1947; a grandson, Bradley Koch; and four brothers, George, Firmin, Joseph, and his twin brother, Marcellus "Marsh" Koch.
The mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 AM Friday at St. Michael's Church inAxtell. He will lie in state at the church for an hour preceding the mass. The burial will be in Sacred HeartCemeteryat Baileyville. The rosary will be prayed on Thursday at 2 and 7 P.M. at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, where he will lie in state after 3 P.M. Wednesday.
Memorials may be given for St. Michael's Church or St. Michael's School and sent in care of the family.
Elmer R. Koelzer
Elmer R. Koelzer, 76, of Baileyville, KS, died Friday July 1, 2011 near Deer Lodge, MT.
He was born on July 5, 1934 on a farm five miles north of Baileyville to Allie J. and Irene J. Hammes Koelzer. He grew up in the Baileyville community and graduated from Baileyville High School in 1952. After high school, he ran a bulldozer for the Clear Creek Township and farmed. In 1953 he enlisted into the Army National Guard and was discharged as a Sergeant E5 in 1961.
Elmer married
Virginia L. Heiman on September 6, 1956 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville. They ran a successful farming and dairy operation and celebrated 54 years of marriage.
Elmer was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville, was a past president of the church council, served as a lay minister, and sang in the choir. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus Council #1769 in Seneca.
In 1970 he received the Seneca Jaycees "Outstanding Young Farmer Award" and later that year was presented by Kansas Governor Docking as the Kansas Jaycees Third Place "Outstanding Young Farmer Award." He served as a board member for the Farm Bureau, the Nemaha County DHIA, the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, the Rural Water District #3 Board and the Baileyville (USD #451) School Board, serving as president. He helped establish the baseball program in Baileyville, and for 12 years he enjoyed coaching Baileyville Baseball youth.
Elmer enjoyed watching his children's and grandchildren’s sporting and other events, playing cards and fishing. He took great pleasure in traveling throughout the United States to visit family and friends.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Barbara Marie; his parents; a brother, Richard Koelzer; and three sisters, Mildred Stallbaumer, Evelyn Heiman and Marceil Haverkamp.
He is survived by his wife, along with their sons, Robert of Olathe and William (Sandy) of Baileyville; and daughters, Brenda (Galen) Niehues of Seneca and Mary Beth (John) Kohake of Centralia; brothers, Regis of Axtell and Gilbert of Baileyville; sisters, Leona Bergman of Baileyville, Eileen Koelzer of Baileyville, LaVerne Uphaus of Topeka and Audrey Mueting of Seneca; 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Thursday, July 7, at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 AM Friday, July 8, at Sacred Heart Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be given in Elmer’s memory for Sacred Heart Baseball and Softball Association, or the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, and sent in care of the family.
