Florence M. Koerner, 89, Hays, died Thursday, September 11, 2014 at the Hays Medical Center.
She was born October 20, 1924 in Loretta, Kansas the daughter of John and Catherine (Schoenfeldt) Basgall. On April 20, 1942 she married Julius Koerner, Sr. in Hays. He died September 27, 1988. She worked at Travenol in Hays for many years and was also a Senior Companion for many years. She had also cleaned homes, was a personal attendant, and worked in a bakery. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella, the Perpetual Adorers, and was a past member of the VFW Auxiliary, the St. John’s Auxiliary, and the Christian Mothers in Munjor. She taught religion at both St. Francis Catholic Church in Munjor and at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. She loved going to church every day and praying the rosary, loved baking, sewing, crocheting, bingo, pinochle, making homemade noodles and chocolate popcorn.
Survivors include two sons; Julius Koerner, Jr. and wife Mary Jane of Munjor, and Kevin Koerner and wife Geri of Hays, five daughters; Ida Mae Gottschalk of Galesville, WI, Rose Ann Jacobs and husband James of Hays, Nora Koelsch and husband Jim of Clearwater, KS, Karen Bieker of Hays, and Colleen Camarata and husband Dr. Joseph of Overland Park, KS, a sister JoAnn Schuckman of LaCrosse, KS, a daughter in law, Judy (Koerner) Smith, seventeen grandchildren, twenty seven great grandchildren, and ten great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, a son Richard M. Koerner, a grandson Russell Werth, granddaughter Nancy Austin, great granddaughter Julie Windholz, sons in law; Tom Bieker and Glenn Philleps, brothers Henry, Fidelis, Clarence, Everett, Sylvester, John, Jerome, Maurice, and Arthur Basgall, and three sisters, Mary Urban, Helen Holmeister, and Frances Schuckman.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Monday, September 15, 2014 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 pm on Sunday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 Monday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine. A Perpetual Adorers rosary will be at 6:00, a Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 6:30, followed by a parish vigil service at 7:00, all on Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Building Fund, the Hays Senior Companions, or to Holy Family Elementary School, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.