Evelyn Henry 1931-2016
Evelyn M. Henry, 85, of Goff, died Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at the Eastridge Skilled Nursing Facility in Centralia.
She was born in Seneca on Jan. 8, 1931, to Francis H. and Florence M. Koch Feldkamp. In 1946, the family moved to a farm south of Corning. She attended country schools, Sts. Peter & Paul and she graduated from Bancroft Rural High School in 1948.
On Nov. 14, 1949, she married Joseph “Joe” Henry Jr at St. Patrick’s Church in Corning. The couple initially lived in Albany, then in the Woodlawn area, before making their permanent home on a farm northeast of Goff.
In 1954, Joe and Evelyn began farming jointly with his brothers Francis and Don, and later Jim. While they were busy farming 3,000 acres and running dairy farms, the opportunity arose to purchase the International Harvester farm implement dealerships in Seneca and Holton. On March 1, 1969, the brothers and their spouses opened Henry Brothers, Inc. in Holton and Seneca. In 1986, they expanded with a new dealership branch in Hiawatha. They have since sold their dealerships.
Evelyn was the proud mother of eight children, 23 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Evelyn worked as a nurse aide at the Sabetha Hospital as a young woman. She milked Grade A cows from 1960 to 1987 with the help of her children. She and her daughters loved to plant a large garden together. Joe and Evelyn celebrated 58 years of marriage before his death on March 23, 2008.
She was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Wetmore and their Altar Society. She loved embroidery and diligently and lovingly made a quilt for each of her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed cooking and to travel.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her father, Francis Feldkamp, on Sept. 8, 1971; her mother, Florence Feldkamp, on June 14, 1989; her sister, Dolores Holthaus, on Feb. 11, 1996; and her brother, Donald Feldkamp, on Sept. 20, 2013.
She is survived by three daughters, Rosemary Henry of Holton, Kathy Scheid of Goff and Joyce (Kenny) Stallbaumer of Wetmore; five sons, Michael (Cheryl) Henry of Topeka, Wayne (Brenda) Henry of Holton, Alan (Paula) Henry of Wetmore and Tom Henry and Jeffrey (Trudi) Henry, both of Topeka; sisters, Marcella (Jim) Hunter and Shirley Steele, both of Topeka; a brother, Robert (Linda) Feldkamp of Topeka; 23 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Rosaries were prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Fr. Barry Clayton on Friday, June 24 at St. James Catholic Church in Wetmore. Draping of the pall was done by her kids. The servers were Braden Henry, Reagan Osterhaus and Kyle Bloom; the lector was Tim Henry and the gift bearers were her granddaughters, Nichol Fausett, Jenny Dutt, Jasmine Viera, Alicia Spalding, Alyssa Henry, Sara Henry, Ashton Henry, Megan Henry, Kari Duntz, Lyssa Matter and Karla Henry.
The communion distributors were Alice Tanking, Joyce Henry and Anna Marie Segenhagen. Music was by Ellie Haverkamp, Mckayla Henry, Kari Duntz and Karla Henry. Pallbearers were her grandsons, Levi Henry, Scott Dutt, Joey Henry, Torrey Henry, Justus Henry, AJ Henry, Jareb Stallbaumer, Kirt Henry, Kent Henry, Kyle Henry, Ty Henry and Tre Henry.
Memorial contributions may be given in Evelyn’s memory to Eastridge Skilled Nursing Facility and sent in care of the family. To express your sympathy and for more information visit www.lauerfuneralhome.com
(PAID OBITUARY)