Catherine Theresa Jahnke

 Catherine Jahnke 87, Oconto, passed away Monday evening December 17, 2012. Catherine Theresa Stapleton was born on March 21, 1925 to the late Francis and Theresa Stapleton in Cudahy, the eldest of 10. As it was the Depression, she left home before graduating from high school, working in Milwaukee to support the family. During that time she once got to see Frank Sinatra live in concert. During WWII she worked as a “Rosie the Riveter” in a factory. Catherine later married Lloyd Jahnke of Abrams and they farmed with their 6 children for over 30 years; first near Brookside, then Lena. “Ma” was very family oriented, a kind person who smiled easily, friendly with all she met and loved children. She valued education such that, in her 50’s she studied up and finally got her GED. She was a member of the Lena Methodist Church, the Machickanee Legion Post Auxilliary, and was active in the Louisville and Pershing 4-H clubs. Survivors listed without a last name are Jahnke. Survivors include her sons Dennis (Leda), Lena; Richard (Ilana), Gays Mills; Bruce (Kathy), Owen; and daughters Nancy Jo, Corvallis, OR; and Karen (Remy) Barila, Lodi, CA; a son-in-law Scott Yaeger, OR; grandchildren Timothy (Sara), Coon Rapids, MN; Michael (Sally), Abbotsford; Debbie (Francois) Zongo, St. Paul, MN; Forest, Gays Mills; and Eli Barila, Lodi, CA; great-grandchildren Gabe, Selma, Caleb and Widseth, Coon Rapids; Judah, Isaac and Ezra, Abbotsford; and Rebekah and Annabelle Zongo, St. Paul, MN. She is further survived by 5 sisters Elvira (Oscar) Kopshinsky, Waukesha; Margareth Smith, Horicon Marsh; Joanne Webb, Brush, CO; Geraldine Drews, Mukwonago; Charlotte Spengler, Stoughton and a brother Walter, Waukegan, IL; brother-in-law Virgil Roberts, CO; sisters-in-law Ellen (Jahnke) Andersen, Green Bay; Marie Stapleton, Mukwonago; Chris Stapleton, IL; and Edith, ID; plus 32 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years Lloyd, a daughter Susan Yaeger; sisters Lucille Jensen, Pewaukee; Beverly, Waukesha; a brother Roger, Pewaukee; a niece Carol Phelps; nephews Gary Ward, Wayne Stapleton and Tommie Spengler; brothers-in-law (Jahnkes side) Arthur, Bernard, Robert, William and Lefty “Curtis“, Hap “Emmett”, Carl Ward, Don Andersen, Victor Kollath, (Stapleton side) Dewey Jensen, Frank Hengen, Ray Smith, Floyd Webb, Bob Drews, and Tom Spengler; sisters-in-law (Jahnkes side) Olive, Beatrice, Ruth, Mertyl, Doris and Elaine Jahnke. Visitation will be from 4-8 PM Wednesday, December 26 at Rhodes-Charapata Funeral Home, Oconto. Visitation will continue at the Oconto Gospel Chapel, Oconto from 10-11 AM Thursday. A Celebration of Catherine’s life will be held at 11 AM Thursday, December 27, 2012 at the Gospel Chapel with Catherine’s son Rev. Bruce Jahnke officiating. Burial will follow at Brookside Cemetery, Brookside. Please visit www.rhodescharapata.com to express online condolences.