Lillian Kahnke
Lillian Kahnke, 103, passed away January 28, 2018 at Lakewood Health System Care Center in Staples.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, Feb. 2, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples, with Father Arlie Sowada officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church.
Interment will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Little Falls.
Arrangements are with the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Staples.
Lillian was born June 25, 1914 to Fred and Rose Stancer, in Fulda. During her early years, her parents farmed in many rented places in Eastern South Dakota and Southwest Minnesota. She graduated from the eighth grade and later attended beauty school in St. Paul and worked for a time in a beauty salon. Lillian married Carl Jerome Kahnke on September 16, 1941 in Redwood Falls. He served in World War II and she became an avid life long member of the Ladies Auxiliary. Lillian worked in a bakery and dime store and after the war, they moved to Ogema, raising four girls while Lillian became a farm wife for 26 years. They moved to Hector where they lived for 33 years helping care for her aging parents. Following Carl’s death, when they were both 86, Lillian moved to Staples at age 93.
Lillian is survived by four daughters, Rose Mary (Mike) Blessing of Staples, Clara (Jerry) Zeller of Clara City, Mary (Brad) Karg of Glencoe and Susan (Bob) Baker of Ogema; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and one step-granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; three infant grandchildren; two infant great-grandchildren and two brothers.
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