Kokenge, Martha (Mrs. Anton “Tony”) 1886-1941

KOKENGE, KELLEN, HANSEN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/15/2022 at 07:59:40

Born: November 13, 1886
Died: February 25, 1941

From the Alton Democrat, February 28, 1941:

Mrs. Tony Kokenge Dies At Le Mars

Mrs. Tony Kokenge of Granville, a patient at the Le Mars hospital for some weeks, passed on Tuesday night after a long illness, at the age of 55 years. Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 9:30 in St. Joseph’s church at Granville.

Mrs. Kokenge is survived by her husband and four daughters, Mrs. Clarence Van Bergen, Mrs. Henry Niichel, both of Granville; Genevieve and Jean at home; also by her mother, Mrs. Mathilda Kellen of Alton, by the following sisters: Mrs. Anna Bunkers, Dell Rapids, S.D.; Mrs. Peter Wagner, Sturgis, S.D.; Mrs. Tom Medley, Minneapolis; Mrs. Tom Anglin, Orient, S.D.; Mrs. Jack Bucholz, Carroll; Mrs. M. Smith, Long Beach, Calif.; and by one brother, Wm. F. Kellen of Remsen.

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From the Alton Democrat, March 7, 1941, Granville news:

Mrs. Anton Kokenge, nee Martha Kellen, died Feb. 25th at the Le Mars Hospital at the age of 54 years and 3 months.

She was born at Granville on Nov. 13, 1886, and lived on a farm west of Granville until 1908 when the family moved to Alton, where she attended St. Mary’s Academy. She was married Jan. 10th, 1910, when they moved to Granville. Surviving are her husband, four daughters, six sisters and one brother, as named in our last issue.

Funeral services were held at St. Joseph’s Church with Rev. Zeno Reising reading the requiem mass. The men’s choir sang and Mrs. Mat Holles was organist. Pallbearers were Geo. Borman, Phil Muehl, V. O’Connor, Al Bennier, Frank Holles, Frank Diederich.

Mrs. Kokenge was a member of the Christian Mothers society of the local church. She was a kind and loving wife and mother, and loved by all. She always enjoyed her home and family, her garden and flowers which she raised so successfully.

[Followed by a long list of people who came from away for the services.]

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RESEARCH NOTES

Her death certificate (informant Anton Kokenge) adds her parents, Matt Kellen, born in Noerding, Luxembourg, and Susan Hansen, born in Luxembourg; died in the Sacred Heart Hospital, Le Mars, where she had been a patient for 21 days, at 10 p.m. February 25, 1941; cause, carcinoma of bile ducts, duration January 1940, and obstructive jaundice, cholangitis [infection of the bile ducts], and cholemia [excess bile in the blood], duration Jan. 10, 1941. An exploratory operation was performed on February 17.

Her FindaGrave.com page shows her buried in Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Granville, with a photo of her headstone. Husband Anton “Tony” Kokenge (1885-1971, married 1910). Children Loretta Maureen Kokenge Taggart (1911-2004), Maurine A. Kokenge Niichel (1914-2007), Genevieve Cecilia Kokenge Erickson (1920-1991), and Jean Marie Kokenge Buchtel (1924-2000).