MEADE – Katie Johannsen Benear Pohl, age 96, died Monday morning, February 11, 2008, at the Meade District Hospital, Meade, Kansas.

She was born July 27, 1911, in rural Meade County, Kansas, the daughter of Peter Hinrich and Kate (Roemer) Johannsen. As a young girl, she attended grade school at the Kyger country school and graduating with honors. A lifetime resident of Meade and Meade County, she was a homemaker, had worked at the Meade Grade School in the kitchen, and was a former janitor of Saint John Lutheran Church.

She was a member of Saint John Lutheran Church, LWML, and was currently the oldest member of the congregation, both of Meade. She loved to make apple pie, quilting, working jigsaw puzzles, playing SkipBoo, solitaire, reading, epically her bible everyday, and was a devote follower of the World Series, having remembered Babe Ruth, Yoga Bara, and Mickey Mantel.

On July 31, 1929, she married James Henry Benear in Meade, Kansas. He later passed away on October 27, 1938. On September 18,1944, she married Fredrick W. "Bill" Pohl. The couple celebrated fifty years of marriage on September 18, 1994 at Meade, Kansas. He later passed away on March 22, 1998.

She is survived by:
A son, James R. "Swede" Benear of Meade, Kansas

Two daughters, Wynema Dye and husband, John of Meade, Kansas
ShirleyDouthit and husband, Jim of Paint Rock, Texas

Grandsons, Alan Benear, Jack & Mark Haddon, Luke, Tracy, & Duke Douthit
Granddaughters, Judy Harpstrite, Nancy Assof, Kristy McKellar Jennifer Dye, Teresa
Hampton, & Leann Benear

Great-grandsons, Garret, Dereke, & Natahn Douthit, Andrew Assof, Nicholas Himergardt,
Cody & Colton Hampton, & Dillon Teague

Great-granddaughters, Debbie Nelson, Victoria Douthit, Aubry ADouthit, Katie Harpstrite, Beck Harpstrite, Amanda Assof, Allison Assof, Sarah McKellar, Betsy McKellar Pucket , Megan McKellar, Britanie Himmergardt, & Kayla Seider

Great-great-grandchildren, Gage Pucket and Grace McKellar

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, James H. Benear, husband, Frederick W. "Bill" Pohl; a daughter, Jimmie Haddon; sisters, Hattie, Ida, Anna, Maria, & Margaretha; brothers, Walter Roemer, Fred, Emil, William "Bill", Henry, John, & Paul Johannsen; grandsons, Jeff Haddon & Jonathan Dye; & granddaughters, Karen & Sharon Routon

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 15, 2008, at Saint John Lutheran Church, Meade, with the Reverend Lynn E. Spencer presiding. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Thursday with the family present from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade. Interment will be in the Graceland Cemetery, Meade.

The family would welcome memorials to Saint John Lutheran Church or Windows to the World in care of the mortuary.