This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: KWAPISZESKI; FROMM; COONEY Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/zk.2ADI/789 Message Board Post: Fred J. Kwapiszeski, 84 May 10, 1918 - Aug. 31, 2002 HARLAN - Frederick Joseph Kwapiszeski, son of Fred W. and Caecilia (Fromm) Kwapiszeski, was born on a farm near Panama, May 10, 1918. He was baptized, received his first Holy Communion and was confirmed at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Panama. He was raised on the family farm and attended St. Mary's Catholic School graduating with the Class of 1936. March 31, 1951, he married Marcella Cooney at St. Francis Xavier Church in Mayetta, KS. Together they raised four children, James, Robert and twins, Mark and Carmela. After their marriage, they farmed south of Portsmouth for 48 plus years. He retired from farming in 1981, but remained very active in St. Mary's Parish in Portsmouth, especially during the picnics providing train rides for children and donating homemade wine for the auctions. In 2000, Fred and Marcella moved to Harlan where they became members of St. Michael's Catholic Church. Due to his poor health, Fred became a resident of the Elm Crest Retirement Community in April of 2002. He died Aug. 31, 2002 at Myrtue Memorial Hospital at age 84 years, three months and 21 days. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his infant sister, Ethel Kwapiszeski. He is survived by his wife, Marcella Kwapiszeski of Harlan; his children, James Kwapiszeski of Temeculah, CA; Robert Kwapiszeski of Omaha, NE; Mary Kay of Houston, TX and Carmella (Dan) Jacobsen of Carroll; five grandchildren, Angie (Marty) Stein; Tina (Tim) Gorham; Keith, Madelyn and Olivia Kay; five great grandchildren, Matthew and Hannah Stein and Alaina, Aleisha and Andria Gorhan; his brothers and sisters, Helen (Ray) Rennemeyer of Highlands Ranch, CO; Edna (William) Henderson of Denver, CO; Dr. H. J. Herbert (Rita) of Ellensberg, WA; and Leonard Kwapiszeski (Kathy) of Panama; nieces and nephews and other relatives. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Sept. 3, 2003, at St. Mary's Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Portsmouth, with the Rev. Paul Bianchi celebrating. Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery, Portsmouth, with Randy Bruck, Maurice Rennemeyer, Greg Desch, Jim Crawford, Guyle Sonderman and Tom Lefeber casket bearers. Pauley Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.