Cecilia Vonnahme, age 95, of Mt. Carmel, died Saturday, June 4, 2016 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll surrounded by her family.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Mt. Carmel. The celebrant will be Fr. Gary Snyder. Music will be by Nancy Lemker and the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Choir. Lectors will be Karen Garringer, Kelly Sigler, Keith Vonnahme, and Heather Vonnahme. Gift Bearers will be Cari Vonnahme, Rachel Vonnahme, Allison Vonnahme, and Sara Vonnahme. Eucharistic Ministers will Judy Koster, Mike Koster, and Ted Garringer. Casket Bearers will be Mike Sease, Adam Vonnahme, Tyler Vonnahme, Eric Vonnahme, Ryan Brockman, Keith Vonnahme, Brian Koster, Travis Koster, and Tanner Vonnahme. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. The Breda American Legion Auxiliary will form an honor guard for the funeral mass.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4 p.m. on Tuesday, where there will be a Rosary prayed at 5 p.m., and a Christian Wake Service will be held at 7 p.m.
Additional visitation will be held from 8:30-9:30 a.m., Wednesday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Cecilia’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on May 4, 1921 at Baileyville, Kansas, Cecilia was the daughter of Anton and Mary (Meyer) Kokenge. After she was born, her family moved back to Maple River, Iowa. It was here she spent her childhood, and attended St. Francis School. On February 28, 1948 Cecilia was united in marriage to Carl Vonnahme at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Maple River. The couple lived in several homes around the area, until settling in Mt. Carmel.
Cecilia enjoyed keeping busy. She was a devoted homemaker, served as a cook at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, and worked in housekeeping at the Carroll Manor. After retirement Cecilia worked part time at Mallard View, and volunteered at New Hope Village in Carroll. She enjoyed gardening, canning, cooking, and baking. She was known for her homemade noodles, cinnamon rolls, buns, and apple pies. Most of all Cecilia enjoyed her loving family, and the gatherings they shared on countless Sunday afternoons. Cecilia was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, and ladies guild, as well as a forty-four year member of the Breda American Legion Auxiliary.
Left to celebrate Cecilia’s life are her children: Janice (Keith) Churchill of Carroll, Dale “Buck” (Kathy) Vonnahme of Carroll, Mary (Rick) Brockman of Auburn, Tony (Debra) Vonnahme of Arcadia, Judy (Mike) Koster of Breda, Lynn Vonnahme of Carroll, Ken “Grass” (Diane) Vonnahme of Mt. Carmel, and Kathy (Tom) Gorman of Auburn; 20 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren with one on the way; her sisters-in-law: Florence Kokenge of Carroll, and Delores Vonnahme of Carroll; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
Cecilia was preceded in death by her parents; husband Carl in 1986; a son-in-law: Larry Sease; her brothers: Lawrence Kokenge, Louis (Jessie) Kokenge, Cyril “Shorty” (Eileen) Kokenge; her brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law: Ray Vonnahme, Ferdinand Vonnahme, Gertrude (Art) Wieland, Margaret (Norbert) Wieland, Fred (Bertha) Vonnahme, Erwin (Rita) Vonnahme, Rita (Al) Nepple, Clarence (Caroline) Vonnahme, and Theresa (Paul) Kasparbauer.
