Elli Kohlbecker, the matriarch of the Kohlbecker family passed away, Sunday, November 10. She made her family proud of how she handled her recent illness. She gave it her all with dignity and strength. Elli had three very distinct stages in her life. She was born in Breslau, Germany in 1927. Elizabeth and Max Schleupner her parents had two girls. Friedel and Elli. They were born 7 years apart. Friedel was the oldest and helped raise Elli when her father Max went missing in action in the war and her mother Elizabeth died of leukemia. Elli grew up fast when the war started and she and her sister had to fend for themselves. Every once in a while she would tell a tidbit of a story on how she and her sister lived on a train and when the train stopped somewhere they would go scavenging for food and provisions. The next phase of her life was when she met her husband, Robert William Kohlbecker. Robert was an American soldier who was working with the Germans at the end of World War ll. Robert saw Elli in Friezing, Germany washing down a sidewalk and he was instantly struck by how beautiful she was. Long wavy black hair and the prettiest blue hazel eyes he had ever seen. It took him quite a few weeks to convince her that he was the one. After they got married they took a moped through Germany and surrounding countries for their honeymoon. Bob and Elli had three sons while living in Europe. Robert and Charles were born in Darmstag, Germany and James was born in Italy. Bob, Elli and the boys lived in Italy for 7 years. Elli could speak fluent German and Italian. It was a happier time for Elli because she had a family of her own and could afford many more luxuries. The Kohlbecker family eventually decided to move to the United States. Bob went to the U.S. with his army unit and Elli sailed across the Atlantic Ocean with three boys under the age of 7. One of the unique experiences she once talked about was going through Ellis Island and the feeling you get when you have to face the unknown. The Kohlbecker family then traveled to Springfield, Illinois the hometown where Bob grew up. They lived there for 4 years and decided to go west to Idaho because Bob had a job offer in Eagle. When they arrived in Eagle the job that was promised never materialized and they struggled to provide for their family. Bob eventually worked for the federal government as the shop foreman of maintance of military equipment located on Fort Street in Boise, Idaho. While living in Boise they added to the family. Two girls were born. Marget and Elizabeth. One of the best stories she told us as kids was that if Marget turned out to be a boy the doctor was supposed to put him back. Elli longed for a girl. Elli, Bob, and the family lived in a three bedroom one bathroom house on Bobran Street. In the late seventies, Elli’s sister Friedel and her daughter Doris moved in with the Kohlbecker family. It was tight quarters but a happy family. Elli had also adopted the Worley family as her own and now had a huge following. In 1989, Elli’s husband died and she once again found herself in another phase of her life. She was now a widow. Elli had extended family in Europe and was able to vacation with them six to ten weeks out of the year. Monica Bulloweit was one of Elli’s nieces that always invited Elli for wonderful trips to faraway places like, Egypt, Turkey, Austria, and many other destinations that Elli often talked about. When Elli was home, she volunteered three days a week at the Meridian Senior Center. She often said that was her social time and she enjoyed keeping active. Elli met one of her best friends at Bingo. Her name is Janet Brower. Janet and Elli had so many things in common they found themselves spending a great deal of time together. Janet lived with Elli for almost ten years until Janet moved out to take care of her mother who resided in Twin Falls. They were the best of friends and partners in crimes. The family would like to say thank you to Marget Walker, Elli’s oldest daughter who move in and took care of Elli while the other siblings worked. She was there for her mom when she needed her. Elli is preceded by her death by her husband, Robert Kohlbecker, her oldest son, Robert Kohlbecker Jr, her sister Friedel Buchta and many of her friends. Leatha and Wayne Worley, Bernice and Zane Simpson and all her canasta playing rivals. Elli’s family includes Robert & Susan Kohlbecker and their family, Charles & Lynna Kohlbecker and their family, James & Sharon Kohlbecker and their family, Marget and Richard Walker and Elli’s grand dogs and Liz & Kent Harris and their family. Last but not least Doris Linderborne. Elli left behind a great number of grand children and great grandchildren. Elli Kohlbecker’s funeral will be Friday, November 15 at eleven oclock at Relya Funeral Chapel. There will be a viewing on Thursday night 6 to 8 P.M.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 23:49:53 +0000
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