Josephine Stroda
Josephine A. Stroda, 88, passed away on June 24, 2009, at St. Luke Living Center in Marion.
She was born Josephine Annie Johnston on April 27, 1921, in Gale Township, Marion County, the daughter of Clark and Martha (Schlotthauer) Johnston.
She grew up in Marion County and attended school in Gale, Center, and Fairplay townships. She attended Florence Grade School and Hillsboro High School.
On Sept. 14, 1943, she married Albert R. Stroda at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Florence. They lived and farmed in the Youngtown community prior to moving to Marion in 1955.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Albert Stroda; brothers Harold, Albert, and Lloyd Johnston; and sisters Ruth Bessel, Edna Pauls, Alice Rempel, Bernice Herbel, Helen Reiswig, and Margaret Johnston.
She is survived by her daughter, JoAnn (Bill) Fitzpatrick of Marion; four grandchildren, Joe Fitzpatrick of Galva, Jeff Fitzpatrick of Fairplay, Calif., Jamie Fitzpatrick of Marion, and Jill (Jay) Reissig of Galva; four great-grandchildren, Tyler Fitzpatrick of Issaquah, Wash., Collin and Chanda Reissig and Jenie Fitzpatrick all of Galva; and her siblings, Walter (Anna) Johnston of Grove, Okla. and Elnora Siemens of Salina.
Josephine was a member of St. Mark Catholic Church and Altar Society. She helped serve many banquets at the church’s activity center. Prior to her marriage, she worked at Boeing Aircraft in Wichita. She was a homemaker and farmer’s companion for all her married life.
She enjoyed sewing, gardening, fishing, playing Bingo, and SkipBo. She collected cardinals and enjoyed making homemade noodles. She was known as the “noodle lady.” For many years, she and a friend would catch crawdads and would sell them to the local bait shop as a pastime and hobby. She also enjoyed eating out with her sisters.
A rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Friday with visitation until 8:30 p.m. at Zeiner Funeral Home in Marion.
A funeral Mass was at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Holy Family Parish, St. Mark Church of Marion.
Burial followed at Marion Cemetery.
A memorial fund has been established with St. Luke Living Center in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, PO Box 6, Marion KS 66861.