Philisene Probasco

The active mind and busy hands of Philisene Probasco were stilled on Friday, June 21, 2024, at the age of 105 years, 8 months, and 23 days.

Philisene was born in a farmhouse in Belmont Township in Rooks County, Kansas, on September 28, 1918. She lived most of her life in and near Stockton, Kansas, except for a brief time in Hugo, Colorado, where her sister Gertrude (Koppes) Biggie (age 97) was born, and her family helped farm sugar beets.

Her Mother, Clara Irene (Griebel) Koppes, and father, Albert John Koppes, had four children: Vernon Koppes, Nick Koppes, Philisene, and Gertrude (Koppes) Bigge. Philisene and her family lived in a rock house north of Webster Lake, and she attended High Hill Grade School, District 99. She left school in the 11th grade and went to work sewing and helping her mother.

On November 1, 1938, Philisene married Carl E. Probasco (1909-2003). They were married for 64 years and had two children, George Probasco and Barbara (Probasco) Williams. Philisene and Carl farmed in Rooks County, near Stockton, Kansas, for all their married life.

Philisene was a faithful member of St. Thomas Catholic Church, always volunteering and helping bake pies for the Catholic Bazaar. She kept active cooking, baking, gardening, knitting, crocheting, sewing, making quilts, playing cards and bingo, bird watching, camping, traveling, taking photos, raising monarchs, and keeping tabs on her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a whole host of friends and extended family. She also enjoyed serving on the election board for Iowa Township.

Philisene and Carl bought a camper trailer and traveled to Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, Idaho, Oregon, Colorado, and many places in between. They always traveled to wherever their children and grandchildren were living at the time.

In March 2009, Philisene became a resident of St Johns/Via Christi Village Assisted Living (VCV). She rarely missed bingo, attended many extra events, enjoyed the musical groups, and logged over 300 miles walking in the halls. She had some wonderful birthday parties at VCV, and many family members and friends joined her in the celebration.

A survivor of two pandemics (Spanish Flu and Covid-19), Philisene kept a journal and took many photos documenting her travels and experiences. The family still refers to her journals and photos from time to time to recall or confirm special events.

She is survived by her son and daughter, George Probasco (Carole) of Hays, and Barbara Williams (Richard) of Stockton; grandchildren, Jill Waltemath (Rick) of Omaha, Neb., Jennifer Bull (Michael) of Omaha, Neb., Ryan Williams of Hays, and Amy Reif (Patrick) of Plainville; great-grandchildren Mackenzie Reinbold (Christian) of Hastings, Neb., Nathan Waltemath of Omaha, Neb., and Jordan Bull of Omaha, Neb.; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, June 28, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Thomas Catholic Church in Stockton. Burial will follow at the Stockton Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home in Stockton.

Memorials are suggested to the American Epilepsy Society, American Heart Association, HaysMed Foundation -Hospice Fund, Monarch Butterfly Fund, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, or Rooks County Cancer Council. They may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st Stockton, KS 67669.