Obit: Capes, Florence (1916 - 2005)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email:  crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Capes, Scottberg, Plank, Foltz, Jannusch, Zimmerman, Rasmussen, Ehlert, Kessenich, Kriese, Hannermann, Istas, Kirner

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) December 29, 2005

Capes, Florence (29 May 1916 - 27 Dec. 2005)

Florence Capes

Florence Capes, 89, entered into eternal rest Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005, at Colonial Center in Colby, surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hansen Funeral Home. The Rev. Art Scottberg will officiate. Maldon Plank will serve as organist with special music provided by Lonnie Zimmerman.

Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Withee, Wis. Pallbearers will be Amanda Foltz, Alicia Capes, Douglas Jannusch, John Foltz, Hank Zimmerman and James Rasmussen.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and one hour prior to service time Saturday, both at the funeral home.

Florence was born in Corson County, S.D., May 29, 1916, to Peter and Edith (Ehlert) Kessenich. She attended Fee country school until her family moved to Longwood, Wis., in 1926. She graduated from the Owen High School in 1932 and from Saint Joseph's School of Nursing in 1934.

On January 17, 1939, in Milwaukee, Florence was united in marriage with her high school sweetheart, Robert "Mac" Capes Sr. From 1946 to 1961, they farmed near Longwood, Wis., where they raised their six children, with a love of God's natural world and a strong work ethic. After they relocated to Marshfield in 1961, Florence volunteered as a school nurse and pursued her interests in education and quilting. Her search for spiritual meaning directed much of her life and found its culmination in her later life with faithful attendance at Bible studies.

Florence was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, in 1992; an infant son, Michael; parents; and brother, John Kessenich.

She is survived by her six children, Barbara (Edward) Jannusch of Stratford, Rita (John) Foltz of Bourbonnais, Ill., Greg (Cathy) Capes of Phoenix, Mark (Darlene) Capes of Neillsville, Robert (Rita) Capes of Oakdale, Minn., and Monica Capes of Marshfield; her grandchildren, Diane Kriese, Doug Jannusch, Kari Hannermann, Valerie Istas, Amanda Foltz, Weston Jannusch, Alicia Capes and Shauna Capes; her eight great-grandchildren, Ashley Jannusch, Anastasia, Patrick, Kelly and Karl Kriese, Emily and Halle Hannemann, and Nina Kai Istas. Each one was a blessing and a treasure to Florence.

Four of her siblings also survive her, Arnold Kessenich of Middleton, Wis., Gilbert (Evie) Kessenich of Stoughton, Wis., Margaret (Kris) Rasmussen of Owen, Wis., and Joan (Don) Kirner of Cross Plains, Wis.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to any of the following, because they cared for her and she cared for them: House of the Dove, 614 Western Ave., Marshfield, WI 54449; Wood County Literacy Council, 300 S. Peach Ave., Marshfield, WI 54449; Memory Garden, Colonial Center, 702 Dolf Rd., Colby, WI 54421.