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OBITUARY

Theresa L. "Tressie" Koehler

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Theresa L. "Tressie" Koehler, of Plainville, Kansas, passed away on Dec. 25, 2022, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas, at the age of 90. She was born on May 20, 1932, to Thomas and Matilda (Weigel) Phlieger in Plainville. She married Fred Koehler on Jan. 15, 1952, in Plainville. They were blessed with seven children, Thelma, Thomas, Rebecca, Claire, Andrea, Gretta, and Daniel.

Tressie graduated from Plainville High School in 1950. She then took a job as a switchboard operator until her marriage to Fred. She was a lifelong homemaker, raising their seven children. Needless to say, she was a wonderful cook as well. Tressie had occasional part-time jobs outside of the home with Wahl's Rexall Drug, Travenol in 1971, the year the family lived briefly in Hays, and lastly, working at the Moore-Overlease funeral home for ten years.

She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville until moving to Hays in 2010, and then she became a member of St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church until her death. She served on the Sacred Heart Ladies Guild, was a Eucharistic Minister to the homebound, rosary leader, and was a member of the bible study group. Later in life, Tressie became a Hospice volunteer.

Tressie made beautiful one-of-a-kind quilts for many of her family members. She loved to read and was always "ready to go" anywhere, anytime, at a moment's notice. She and Fred traveled to Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Wyoming, and California. The top of all adventures was the trip she and her sister, Lorraine, took to Fatima in the 80s. She truly had an adventuresome spirit and taught her children never to be afraid, chided them to let loose of their fears, and live life to the fullest.

Tressie is survived by her children Thelma Nickelson (Neil) of Hays, Kansas, Rebecca Hake (Dean) of Hutchinson, Kansas, Claire Koehler of La Habra, California, Andrea Linder (Douglas) of Pittsburg, Gretta Koehler-Jones of Lee Summit, Missouri, and Daniel Koehler of San Francisco, California; daughter-in-law, Brenda Koehler of Mercer Island, Washington; siblings James Phlieger (Bonnie) of Jacksonville, Texas, Virginia "Ginger" Kroos (Fred) of Olathe, Kansas, and Lorraine Hessler (Don) of Bennett, Colorado; sister-in-law, Marceline Phlieger of Russell, Kansas; as well as nine grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Matilda; husband, Fred Koehler; son, Thomas Koehler; siblings, Everett Phlieger, Edgar (Joan) Phlieger, and Rosemary (George) Roberts; grandson, Toby Hake; and granddaughters, Heather Koehler and Hermione Koehler-Jones.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville. Burial will follow at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m., and the family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home in Plainville.

Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 S.W. 2nd St., Plainville, KS 67663.