Edward O. Kionka

Edward O. Kionka, age 81, went home to heaven Saturday, August 5, 2006. He was a resident at Rolling Meadows Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Ed was born on November 26, 1924 in Denmark, WI the son of Edward H. and Julianne (Kempfert) Kionka. He later earned his Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. On June 15, 1947 he married Alila Wiechmann in Lake City, MN, where he was a teacher. Ed taught grade school, played organ, and directed choirs at St. John's Lutheran in Lake City, Jordan Lutheran in West Allis, North Trinity Lutheran in Milwaukee, and St. John's Lutheran in Watertown. When his wife Alila died November 15, 2003, he moved to Fond du Lac and became a member of St. Peters's Lutheran Church. Ed also played organ at Bethesda Lutheran Home in Watertown, and enjoyed his years singing in the Milwaukee Lutheran Chorale and the Watertown Vesper Singers. He taught all of his children in grade school, and they have special memories of his teaching the grade school choirs to sing in 3-4 part harmonies. He passed on his enjoyment of gardening to gardening to several of his children, and also had a love of working with wood. SURVIVORS: seven children, Thomas (Carol) of Milwaukee, Susan (Richard) Haefemeyer of Waupun, Kathy (Don) Thurow of Fond du Lac, Mary (Robert) Leonard of Kansas City, MO, Daniel (Leticia) of San Jose, CA, Patty (William) Bonack of Rhinelander,WI, Jim of Oconomowoc, seventeen grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, one brother, Gerhardt (Lois) of Milwaukee, one sister, Bertha (Edward) Hagen of Milwaukee, and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Alila, and one sister, Ruth.



VISITATION: Friday, August 11, 2006 from 4-7 P.M. at St. Peter's Ev. Lutheran Church, 1st and Marr, Fond du Lac. FUNERAL: Friday, August 11, 2006 at 7:00 P.M. at St. Peter's Ev. Lutheran Church with the Reverend Jon Cox officiating. Burial will take place on Saturday at 10:30 A.M. at Watertown Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials appreciated to St. Peter's Ev. Lutheran Church, Fond du Lac, or Bethesda Lutheran Home, Watertown, or a charity of your choice.Special thanks to the staff at Rolling Meadows Nursing Home for the love and care that they provided our dad.Uecker-Witt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.