Hoke, Florence Margaret Zenisek

Florence Margaret Zenisek Hoke, 94, of Mount Vernon, died Wednesday, March 31, 2010, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids, from pulmonary edema. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 5, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Mount Vernon, by the Rev. John Gossman. The viewing and visitation will be from 3:30 until 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Morgan Tribute Center, Mount Vernon, with a vigil service and rosary recited at 6:30 p.m. There also will be a viewing beginning at 9:30 a.m. before the Funeral Mass at St. John's.

Surviving Florence are her four children: Richard B. Hoke Jr. and wife Carol, Mount Vernon; Carol A. Burns and husband Stuart, Davenport; Elaine R. Blythe and husband Craig, Springville; and David A. Hoke and wife Anne, Mount Vernon. Florence was tremendously proud of all of her grandchildren: Dr. Renee (Brian) Ash, Cincinnati, Ohio; Michele Blythe, Esq., Houston, Texas; Dr. Teresa Burns (Scott Dimpfl), Columbus, Ohio; Dr. Molly Burns, Dubuque; William Hoke, Iowa City; Daniel (Trisha) Blythe, Buffalo Grove, Ill.; Jodi Paden, Mount Vernon; Dina Hoke, Cedar Rapids; Lt. Andrew Burns, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and Bryan Hoke, St. Louis, Mo. Florence had her first great-grandchild in September, Ryan Blythe (Daniel). She is also survived by her sister, Eleanor Secrest, West Branch; her brother, Clarence Zenisek, Solon; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Preceding Florence in death were her husband of 66 years, Richard Bennett Hoke; parents, Joseph and Agnes Cole Zenisek; and siblings, Stanley, Raymond and Loretta Zenisek.

Florence was born April 3, 1915, on the family farm east of Solon. She graduated from Solon High School and received a teaching certificate from the teachers college in Cedar Falls. Florence taught country school in the rural area outside of Solon, Mount Vernon, and Lisbon. She married Richard on June 6, 1940, in Solon at a double wedding with her sister, Eleanor, to William Secrest. Florence was a long time member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, a member of the Altar & Rosary Society at St. John's, a member of the Good Luck Social Club, and a 4-H leader. Florence loved her family, was a wonderful cook, and a true conversationalist. Florence spent many hours making memories with her family and sharing stories of days gone by.

The memorial fund will be for macular degeneration and the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Ambulance Fund.

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