Florence Anna (Bockman) Vahling , age 99, departed this life on December
25, 2020 at the Sheridan County Long Term Care with family by her side.
Florence was welcomed into this world on March 7, 1921 at the family
home North of Festina, Iowa. Florence was the sixth child of Frank and
Elizabeth (Uhlenhake) Bockman. She attended school in Festina through
eighth grade. At the age of fourteen, Florence packed one suitcase and
moved to Chicago, Illinois to be a nanny and housekeeper. At
twenty-three, she met the love of her life, Henry Vahling. On their
first date, they danced to Lawrence Welk at the Aragon. Soon after
meeting, Florence and Henry were married on October 16, 1945 in Festina,
Iowa. They moved to a farm north of New Almelo where they lived for
thirty-eight years. There they raised eight children, four girls and
four boys. In 1983, they sold the farm to their son Bill and moved to
Hoxie, Kansas and lived there for the next thirty-seven years.
Florence was a devoted Christian wife, mother, grandmother,
great-grandmother and friend. She served her family in many ways:
delicious homemade meals, canning, butchering chickens (her family
always looked forward to fried chicken every Sunday), churning butter,
baking bread, milking cows, and even driving the silage truck even
though she didn’t have a driver’s license until the age of 62 after she
moved to Hoxie.
Florence was committed to her church. She helped with meals and
helped make quilts for the church bazaar. She cleaned, made flower
arrangements for the church and was involved in the alter society.
Florence’s garden was a source of pride and won her many grand prize
ribbons at the county fair. Throughout the years, Florence completed
numerous crochet and embroidery projects with the amazing feat of
completing a quilt. Some of her favorite activities were bowling,
playing cards and dancing. She requested a polka dance every year for
her birthday. Florence loved playing Bingo, collecting stamps, and
putting together puzzles (Urkel, Urkel). Her walls held many memories
as they were covered with mounted puzzles for all to see. Florence’s
most treasured hobby was collecting salt and pepper shakers. She had
over 800 pair, from all over the world-Las Vegas to Africa.
Florence is survived by her children Laura Dorenkamp and husband Joe
of Selden, Kansas, Jim Vahling and wife Christine of Mesa, Arizona,
Marcia Aumiller, New Almelo, Kansas, Paul Vahling and wife Donna of
Aurora, Colorado, Rosie Gallagher of Oakley, Kansas, Estella Kirkham and
husband Phil of Sharon Springs, Kansas, George Vahling of Plainville,
Kansas, and Annette Follis and husband Clint of Hoxie, Kansas;
twenty-five Grandchildren; Forty-six Great-Grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by parents, Frank and Elizabeth(Uhlenhake)
Bockman; husband, Henry Vahling; son, Bill Vahling; son-in-law, David
Gallagher; and grandchildren, Patricia Haffner, Marsha Haffner, and
Marisa Haffner, and great-grand son, Ezra Etherton.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday January 2, 2021,
10:30 A.M. at the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, Hoxie, Kansas.
Interment will take place in the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Cemetery
immediately following the Service. Visitation will be held at the St.
Frances Cabrini Catholic Church on Friday, January 1, 2021 from 3:30
P.M. until 6:00 P.M. Family receiving friends from 3:30 P.M. until 6:00
P.M. At 6:00 P.M. the Vigil and Rosary Service will be held at the
church. The family suggests memorials to the Sheridan County Benefit
Walk and the Christ Victory Centre. Memorials may be sent in care of
Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas. Words of
comfort may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com.
Many were blessed to learn from Florence as she shared her skills,
passion for life, and sense of humor. Florence was ALWAYS feisty, fun,
and the life of the party. She was referred to as “The Rose” because
she loved roses and always came out smelling like a rose. At the Long
Term Care everybody referred to Florence as “Foxy”–a name she lived up
to. She has left this earthly body and while it brings sadness, she
would ask you to remember her with fond memories and love.