Florence Kokenge

December 24, 1923 - August 6, 2019

Florence “Flossie” Marie Kokenge, age 95, of Carroll died on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at Regency Park Nursing Home in Carroll. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, August 10, 2019 at St. John Paul II Parish, Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Kevin Richter. Music will be by Dr. Franklyn Busby, Pastoral Musician, and the Holy Spirit Resurrection Choir. The Lector will be Megan Alvarado. Gift Bearers will be Jodi Jorgensen, Jackie Adkins, and Jennifer Kokenge. Eucharistic Minister will be Joan Badding. Casket Bearers will be Tommy Kokenge, Rick Siepker, Jeremy Tunning, Cory Tunning, Nick Kokenge, Andrew Fasbender, Blaise Hass, Kobe Hass, and Jacob Maasen. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Tyler Kokenge, Keith Kokenge, Cory Kokenge, Joe Kokenge, and Brandon Maasen. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4 p.m. on Friday where there will be a Rosary prayed at 5 p.m., and a Christian Wake Service will be held at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to Holy Spirit Church on Saturday morning where visitation will resume from 8:45 a.m. until the time of the funeral mass at 9:30 a.m. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Florence’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com. Born December 24, 1923 at Roselle, Iowa, Florence was the daughter of Joseph and Josephine (Haberl) Steffes. Florence grew up on a farm near Roselle and attended school in Roselle at Holy Angels School. On February 9, 1943, Florence married Lawrence Kokenge, her husband of 54 years, at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Roselle, Iowa. The couple made their home in Auburn and Adair before settling in Carroll. Flossie cherished her time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was an inspiring role model to her ten kids and a great homemaker. She loved to bake and enjoyed playing cards, the piano, and writing poetry. She loved her cats and drinking coffee on her porch on Saturday mornings with her many friends and family. Florence is survived by her children: Nancy (Bruce) Graff of Henderson, Nevada; David (Mary) Kokenge of Eloy, Arizona; Joni (Les) Olson of Orlando, Florida; Connie (Dick) Tunning of Dedham, Iowa; Danny (Laura) Kokenge of Milford, Ohio; Deanna (Riley) Fasbender of Mesa, Arizona; Luwana Hass (Mike Ross) of Carroll, Iowa; and Kristy (Brad) Maasen of Mt. Carmel, Iowa; two daughters-in-law: Gayle Kokenge of Carroll, and Bobbie Kokenge of Carroll; 25 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; 7 great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Bernice Irlmeier of Templeton and Coletta (Tootie) Wernimont of Fonda, Iowa; and a sister-in-law, Dixie Steffes of New Hampton, Iowa. Florence was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence Kokenge in 1997; two sons, Jerry Kokenge in 2012 and Kenny Kokenge in 2009; two grandsons, Dave Siepker and Josh Tunning both in 2006; and siblings Hilda Schroeder, Lucille (Bay) Galloway, Irene (Leo) Ertz, Elizabeth (Florian) Wittrock, Lawrence (Darlene) Steffes, and Norbert Steffes.