San Joaquin County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....Kohnke, Otto Henry March 22, 2005 ********************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/obits/obitsca/obitsca.htm ********************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Vickie Stone VctrStV4U@aol.com March 30, 2005, 12:56 am Lodi News-Sentinel Mar 29, 2005 Otto Henry Kohnke Otto Henry Kohnke was born on August 20, 1913 about two miles north of Lodi and passed away on the evening of March 22, 2005 in Galt. Otto was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Aileen Kohnke, his brother John Kohnke, sisters Anita Tennison, Amanda Loney, recently nephew Jack Loney and niece Lorraine Colins. He is survived by his sister Alvina Vineyard, his son Rod Kohnke and his wife Terri; stepdaughter Laura Campbell and her husband Virgil; stepson Ray Lyons and their families. He also leaves behind 11 grandchildren, including Ryan Frazier, Robert Kohnke, Jennifer Kohnke, Ed Campbell and Ken Campbell. Otto also has 15 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews including Susan Lund, Donna Mae McGugan, Jean Boger, Barbara Taylor, Dorothy Pruden, Ed Tennison, Lucille Berndt, Ralph Vineyard and Nancy Meeks. Otto was five years old when he moved in the autumn of 1917 to what was then known as Galt Road when his father Henry Kohnke purchased 560 acres on Dry Creek about eight miles east of Galt. The ranch was locally known as the old West place. His father brought about 300 head of sheep to the ranch Otto attended the old Brown District School with his brother and sisters, as well as local neighbors. He attended Galt High School for two years before he was needed to work on the family farm, which now included the White Ranch that bordered the Kohnke Ranch to the north. At the age of 21 years old, Otto, with his brother, John, bought the Emerson Ranch, which bordered the Kohnke Ranch to the east. During World War II, even though he was 1A, Otto fought the war on the home front. Every family farm during the war had one male child stay home to work the farm. He was a member of the Civil Defense Service and continued to build the ranch from a sheep ranch to a cattle ranch while his brother, John was away. When his mother passed away in 1955, Otto and his brother John became partners in the family ranch and ran the family dairy. In the late 1050's he met Aileen Lyons and in April of 1060 they were married. Otto adopted her youngest son Rod and changed his name to Kohnke and raised him as his own. During this time in the late 50's and early 60's , Otto also started his landleveling business becoming one of the area's best landlevelers continuing in business through the 1990's. He was well known for his vast knowledge of mechanics with Caterpillars and farm implements. He loved to design, build and weld various types of farm and ranch items and equipment. Otto was a hands-on type of businessman. He helped feed his cattle every morning through his 90's, as well as managing his family finances. He is a lasting part of five generations of Kohnke's to live and work on the family ranch as well as countless numbers of nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Otto will be remembered as a good, honest, hard working man who loved his family and his numerous friends. Friends are invited for a visitation on Tuesday, March 29 and Wednesday, March 30 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Gierhart-Wells & Donaue Funeral Home, 123 North School Street, Lodi and to a Funeral Service on Thursday, March 31 in the Gierhart-Wells & Donahue Funeral Home Chapel at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Cherokee Memorial Park, Lodi. A reception for family and friends will be held at the Herald Fire Department Community Center, 12746 Ivie Road, Herald, off Hwy 104 (Twin Cities Road). Gierhart-Wells & Donahue Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ca/sanjoaquin/obits/kohnke6770gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/caobfiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb