Kelchen, Florence Elizabeth

Florence Elizabeth Kelchen, 91, of Manchester, passed away at the Good Neighbor Home on Sept. 27, 2012, surrounded by her family. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 1, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ryan by the Rev. Dennis Cain. Visitation will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Manchester, where there will be a 1 p.m. Scripture service. Additional visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday before the service at the church. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Ryan.

Florence was born Aug. 17, 1921, in Randolph, Neb., the daughter of Nicholas and Katherine (Rogers) Hosch. She attended school in Randolph. On Feb. 13, 1945, Florence was united in marriage to Lawrence Kelchen at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Farley, Iowa. They farmed near Ryan all of their married life.

Florence was an active member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, a teacher of First Grade Religious Education for many years, and belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary.

She was a loving, caring mother and homemaker who raised nine children. Her social life consisted of attending numerous events and activities with family and friends.

Florence is survived by eight children, Sister Sharon Kelchen, PBVM, of Farley, Dorie Kelchen of Marion, Kay (Paul) Ostwinkle of Dyersville, Karen (Ken) Tobin of Worthington, Joe (Susan) Kelchen of Manchester, Jean (Dennis) Loesche of Dyersville, Jim (Mary) Kelchen of Manchester and Chris (Dean) Klostermann of Manchester; 23 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; one sister, Rita (Heid) Wilgenbusch of Monticello; one brother, Leonard (Delores) Hosch of Monticello; and sisters-in-law, Pauline Hosch of Independence, Delores Hosch of Epworth, Millie Foxen of Dubuque and Rosie White of Dyersville.

Florence was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lawrence J. Kelchen in 1991; her son, Lawrence P. Kelchen in 2006; and siblings, Herman Hosch (in infancy), Ray (Helen) Hosch, Herb (Eleanor) Hosch, Carl Hosch, Fred Hosch, Clarence Hosch during World War II, Hilda (Albert) Leytem, Dolores (Gerry) White and Irene (Herb) Kramer.

Please sign the online guest book for Florence at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published Sept. 29, 2012 in The Gazette