Daniel Charles Kohake, 90, of Seneca, Kansas, passed away peacefully, to be with Our Lord on March 3, 2014, at Life Care Center in Seneca, surrounded by his family on Monday evening, praying at his bedside.

Dan was born on the family farm located north of Centralia, Kansas April 23, 1923, to Joseph and Margaret Trimble Kohake. He attended grade school at Diamond District NO. 88 near Seneca and graduated from Sts. Peter and Paul High School, Seneca, Kansas, in 1940.

Dan worked at the Seneca Farmer’s Elevator before entering in to the U.S. Army services in 1943. He served in the 78th Infantry Division in Europe as a rifle and machine gunner in Company C 310 Infantry. He received an honorable discharge in 1946 as a First Sergeant having received three Bronze Service stars and a Purple Heart. He returned home to the family farm and found the love of his life, Mary Boeding. They wed on September 11, 1946 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Corning. The couple farmed the home place northeast of Centralia, and later operated a Grade A dairy. In the spring of 2005 Dan and Mary moved to Seneca. They were blessed with eight children and 63 years of marriage, prior to Mary’s passing in 2009.

Dan remained on the family homestead as a farmer and dairyman until his retirement. He was involved in many community projects and served on the Mitchell Township and the Nemaha County Co-Op Board of Directors. He belonged to Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Sts. Peter and Paul Choir, and St. Joseph’s Society. He dearly loved the Catholic Church and was an active parish member—he was on the council, served as a lay minister, lector, commentator and rosary leader. Dan and Mary donated many hours of labor to the church; as well as, the recent gift of the SPPS church organ. He was a past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus # 1769, a member of the Fourth Degree Ponce de Leon Assembly, and a past District Deputy of the State Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the Seneca Memorial Post #7458 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Earl W. Taylor Post #21 of the American Legion both of Seneca. He and Bill Schneider initiated the school and church newspaper recycling drive in the early 1970s. In later years he was the Nemaha County Training Center transportation driver which he enjoyed dearly. Dan had one hobby and that was working with his chainsaw cleaning up his farms; he was one of these farmers that stayed busy on the farm they loved.

He is survived by children, Judy Deters of Baileyville, Jean (Herman) Renyer of Sabetha, Janice (Jim) Steinlage of Olathe, Fred (Geralynn) Kohake of Centralia, Barb Montgomery of Topeka, Beth (Brent) Nelson of Holton, Joe (Denise) Kohake of Centralia, and John (Mary Beth) Kohake of Centralia; a brother, Leonard “Duke” Kohake of Seneca; 36 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Lucille Bednarz and Edith Scheurer; son-in-law, Merlin Deters on September 23, 2006; and two grandsons, Ed Deters on May 17, 1987 and Andrew Kohake on June 3, 2007.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Thursday, March 6, 2014, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Funeral Mass will be offered at 11 AM Friday, March 7, 2014, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Memorials will be designated at a later date, and sent in care of the family.