Obituary

Florence was the fifth of eleven children born to Joseph H. and Anna (Wiemer) Knorr on January 31, 1920. She was baptized at St. John's Lutheran Church south of Waco on February 29, 1920. She attended country school and then St. John's Lutheran School, Waco, through eighth grade. She was confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church, Waco, on April 9, 1933.

Growing up, she helped with the farm work and household chores. She also was a "Mother's helper" for many families in the area. On November 15, 1939, she was united in marriage to John W. Fehlhafer at her parent's home south of Waco. John and Florence made their home on a farm southeast of Gresham, where she helped her husband with the farm work. She enjoyed cooking, baking and sewing. John and Florence were blessed with four daughters: Janice, Joyce, Lola, and Nancy. John and Florence were members of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Gresham, where she was an active member of the Ladies Aid. In the late 1950's they moved near Utica, and joined St. Paul Lutheran Church in Utica.

During the 1950's she started working away from the home to help supplement the income for the family. She worked at the egg plant in Seward, cooked at the Utica Public School, cooked at the Utica bowling alley, and then worked at the Flying V restaurant for many years until they closed. In 1987 they moved to Utica after retiring from the farm. At that time she went to work at the Utica Nursing home in various departments, including the dietary department. John passed away on November 16, 2014. Florence continued to live in her home in Utica until June of 2016 when she moved to the Ridgewood Nursing Home in Seward due to failing health.

Florence passed away Sunday, October 2, 2016, in Seward at the age of 96 years, 8 months and 2 days. She is survived by three daughters: Janice (Larry) Moore of Ulysses; Joyce (Al) Sheehan of Seward; Nancy (Gail) Wolfe of North Platte. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Kathy (Bart) Dye, Alliance; John (Angie) Moore, Shelby; Kristen (Roger) Wilton, Gresham; Toni (Tom) Fletcher, Lincoln; Todd (Joann) Sheehan, Canyon Lake, Texas; Patrick (Kim) Sheehan, Gresham; Todd (Holly) Tonniges, York; Lori Batt, Utica; Dawn (Manny) Caudillo, North Platte; Adam (Lana) Wolfe, Germany; Susan Tonniges, Kearney. Also surviving Florence are former son-in-law Ron Tonniges of York; 32 great-grandchildren and 21 great-great-grandchildren; brother and sisters-in-law Clarence and Shirley Knorr of York, Donna Belle Knorr of Pleasant Hill, Missouri; numerous nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

Preceding her in death were her parents, husband John, and daughter Lola Tonniges. Also preceding her in death were grandsons Rod Tonniges, Ted Sheehan, Bill Batt; granddaughter Nancy Sheehan; sisters Esther (Otto) Fehlhafer, Palma (Herman) Fehlhafer, Lorna (Wilbert) Schmieding, Erna (Larry) Staehr, Vera Knorr, Martha Knorr; brothers Walter (Frieda) Knorr, Erich (Geraldine) Knorr, Norman Knorr; sisters-in-law Dorothea (William) Ruckesdachel and Marie (Erich) Schmidt.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 9, 2016, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Zabka Funeral Home, Seward and will resume from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Utica with the family receiving friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 10, 2016, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Utica with interment at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery north of Utica. Pastor Jon Dunbar will be officiating. Memorial contribution may be made to the Fehlhafer family for later designations.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Florence L. Fehlhafer, please visit our flower store.