Elsie Rohner Obituary

Elsie Marie Anna (Volz) Rohner

Elsie Marie Anna (Volz) Rohner, 99, died in Christ on February 22, 2015, passing away peacefully at the Delmar Gardens Assisted Living Facility.

Elsie was born the elder of two children to Barbra Gunther and Phillip Volz on October 15, 1915.

Elsie attended the original Wyandotte High School, graduating as valedictorian for the class of 1933. Upon graduation, however, she was faced with the hard financial times of that era…and elected to work full time in her parents' store (Volz Dry Goods), rather than attending a community college to further her education. Living through those difficult times sharpened her business acumen, a considerable asset that she carried through her entire life. Even as the sharpness of her mind began to dull a bit in her final years, she still delighted in doing "paperwork" on a daily basis. Elsie's life outside of work was focused on church, roller skating and a close circle of friends known as the "Girls' Club".

Then she met Ted. In 1947, Elsie married A. Theodore (Ted) Rohner, a good looking, hardworking man whose parents immigrated to the US from Poland. Although they very much wanted children, conception just wasn't to be. Undaunted, and setting aside their understandable disappointment, they agreed that adoption would be their answer. They adopted a beautiful infant daughter, Karen Sue, directly from birth…followed a few years later with the adoption of their son, Randall Craig.

A family vacation cabin was initially built in 1935 on Lake Gardner, marshalling the efforts of the entire family and many of their friends…a place that became an enduring center of family events, including fishing, swimming and heated card games…and social events, including church summer youth activities (Walther League)…all providing years of fond memories.

Elsie was constantly active in St. Luke's Lutheran Church, a member for 96 years…since she was 3 years old. In her earlier years, she taught bible classes and Vacation Bible School, and she invested much of her free time in sewing circle and serving meals to the less fortunate.

She was a woman of boundless energy, matched only by the depth of kindness in her heart. Even in her later years, one of Elsie's greatest concerns was always whether anyone around her was hungry. If she had her way, she would gladly have fed the entire world. Once a homeless man wandered to her backdoor and pounded, asking for food. Rather than turning him away, she made him a roast beef sandwich, followed by a piece of apple pie. When chastised by Ted for taking such a risk, she replied: "What if that was Jesus?" Elsie was a woman that practiced her strong Christian beliefs in her daily life.

Her energy and kind heart were teamed with a genuine toughness…you don't live nearly 100 years without being a little tough. One indication occurred when she was in her mid 80's. She was still driving, and while walking to her car, she was mugged for her purse and knocked violently to the ground. Elsie pulled herself back up to her feet and shook her fist after the cowardly mugger…yelling as loud as she could: "You so and so!!"

Elsie was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Ted Rohner, and her brother, Herb Volz. She leaves behind her daughter, Karen, and son, Randy; Karen's husband of 47 years, Michael Scott, and Randy's wife of 43 years, Donna (Seufert) Rohner; grandchildren, Brian Scott, Damon Scott, Shannon Scott, Brandon Scott, Craig Rohner, Corey Rohner, Kayla (Rohner) Peek and Curt Rohner; great-grandchildren Nolan Scott, Darian Scott, Zachary Scott, Trent Scott, Tyler Scott and Jareth Jensen.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 AM Saturday, February 28, 2015 at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 722 Reynolds, Kansas City, KS, with funeral service at 11:00. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family wishes to express its sincere thanks to the staff at Delmar Gardens in Lenexa, and to Ascend Hospice, for the kind and compassionate care given Elsie in her later years. Any donations, in lieu of flowers, can be made to St. Luke's Lutheran Church

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