Helen Marie Koel passed away on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, at the Redbud
Village in Plainville at the age of 99. She was born in Norton County,
Kansas to Edward and Lizzie (Bartel) Paugh on May 2, 1922. She was
united in marriage to her first husband Edwin Kent on October 17, 1942.
They were blessed with a son, Alvin Kent. Edwin passed away on July 3,
1945 and Helen was remarried on October 15, 1946 to Francis Koel in New
Almelo, Kansas. Francis and Helen were blessed with five children:
James, Joyce, David, Venetia, and Karla.
Helen was a member of the graduating class of 1942 at Lenora High
School and a lifelong resident of Graham County. After high school, she
then worked hard to provide for her family by pursuing her career as a
nurse at the local hospital, working her way from the kitchen to getting
promoted to higher positions. Helen then decided to go to school in
Beloit for their nursing program. At the age of 60, she went back to
college and continued her education in nursing. She was a licensed LPN
and truly loved working at the hospital.
Helen was a woman with many amazing qualities and hobbies. She loved
to play many games, with bingo being her favorite. She would play bingo
anytime and anyplace with anyone. She also liked to play her luck at
gambling and would take a bus to go gambling often.
Helen was a very inviting woman, welcoming everyone to her house.
She even had an “open door policy” to attest to this. All were equal in
her eyes. She also loved to make handmade gifts. You could be sure to
receive one before leaving her house and you would always know what you
were receiving before she ever gave it to you! One of her most favorite
gifts was a specially made quilt by her, which she gave to her children
made from handkerchiefs from her mother that was shaped like
butterflies.
Truly one of the most generous people you could ever meet, Helen was
a loving and caring woman who seemed to always have a smile on her
face. Helen will be greatly missed by the countless lives she touched
and by all who knew and loved her, but her life and memory will continue
to have an impact for eternity.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Lizzie Paugh;
first husband, Edwin Kent; second husband, Francis Koel; daughter,
Venetia Holmes; and a grandson, Kenny Kaylor; daughter-in-laws, Linda
Kent and Becky Koel.
Left to cherish Helen’s memories are her children, Alvin (Karen)
Kent of Jefferson City, MO, James (Melissa) Koel of Dewey, AZ, Joyce
(Mark) Griffin of Wichita, KS, David (Trisha) Koel of Plainville, KS,
and Karla (Calvin) Morgan of Hill City, KS; twenty grandchildren,
fifteen great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at
the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Hill City, starting at 1:30 PM.
Visitation will also be held on Saturday at the church from 12 PM until
service time.
Memorials are suggested to the Redbud Village and may be sent in
care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd St., Plainville, KS
67663.