Florence Kohake, 84, of Kelly, Kansas, died Thursday morning, June 21, 2007, at the Olathe Medical Center in Olathe after being recently diagnosed with cancer.

Florence was born September 6, 1922, on a farm west of St. Benedict, Kansas, 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 Fr. Vincent Wavada O.S.B. at St. Bede’s Parish in Kelly. 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 10 AM Saturday, June 23, at St. Bede’s Church in Kelly. Burial will be in the church 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 sent in care of the family.