Theresa L. "Tressie" Koehler

Theresa L. “Tressie” Koehler, of Plainville, passed away on December 25, 2022, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, at the age of 90.

She was born on May 20, 1932, to Thomas and Matilda (Weigel) Phlieger in Plainville. She married Fred Koehler on January 15, 1952, in Plainville. They were blessed with 7 children: Thelma, Thomas, Rebecca, Claire, Andrea, Gretta, and Daniel.

Tressie graduated from Plainville High School in 1950. She then took a job as a switchboard operator until her marriage to Fred. She was a life-long homemaker, raising seven children. Needless to say, she was a wonderful cook as well. Tressie had occasional part-time jobs outside of the home: Wahl’s Rexall Drug, Travenol (1971) the year the family lived briefly in Hays, and lastly, working at the Moore-Overlease funeral home for 10 years.

She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville until moving in 2010 to Hays and then became member of St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church until her death. She served on the Sacred Heart Ladies Guild, was a Eucharistic Minister to the homebound, Rosary leader, and member of the bible study group. Later in life, Tressie became a Hospice volunteer.

Tressie made beautiful one-of-a-kind quilts for many of her family members. She loved to read; and was always ready “to go” anywhere, anytime, at a moment’s notice. She and Fred traveled to Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Wyoming, and California. The top of all adventures was the trip she and her sister, Lorraine, took to Fatima in the 80’s. She truly had an adventuresome spirit and taught her children to never be afraid—chided them to let loose of their fears and live life to the fullest.

She is survived by her children: Thelma Nickelson (Neil) of Hays, Rebecca Hake (Dean) of Hutchinson, Claire Koehler (David Groves) of La Habra, Calif., Andrea Linder (Douglas) of Pittsburg, Gretta Koehler-Jones of Lee Summit, Mo., and Daniel Koehler of San Francisco, Calif.; daughter-in-law, Brenda Koehler of Mercer Island, Wash.; siblings: James Phlieger (Bonnie) of Jacksonville, Texas, Virginia “Ginger” Kroos (Fred) of Olathe, and Lorraine Hessler (Don) of Bennett, Colo.; sister-in-law, Marceline Phlieger of Russell; 9 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Matilda; husband, Fred Koehler; son, Thomas Koehler; siblings, Everett Phlieger, Edgar (Joan) Phlieger, and Rosemary (George) Roberts; grandson, Toby Hake; and granddaughters, Heather Koehler and Hermione Koehler-Jones.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, December 31, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville. Burial will follow at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday, 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m., and the family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m. at the funeral home in Plainville.

Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd St, Plainville, KS 67663.