Frances LaVerne Wuensche Kahanek, age 96, passed away on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Victoria Texas. She was born on September 19, 1929, in Thorndale Texas to Alma Mathilda Spielert Wuensche and William Ernest Andrew Wuensche. The youngest of eight children, she was baptized at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thorndale on October 6, 1929. Her baptismal certificate or "Taufschein" was completely written in the German language. At two years of age, her family moved to Bishop, Texas. While the family worked picking cotton in the fields, older sister Norene would babysit my mom when she was very young. Speaking only German at the time, she started parochial school at the Concordia community near Bishop. Her family was active in the Lutheran church where she would later confirm her Christian faith. In the first grade, she rode a donkey to and from school with her brother Marvin. They would shake a tin can filled with rocks to get that donkey to move. Marvin sold the donkey but later saw him back in town. Donkey's ears perked up, and we know he recognized Marvin. Mom also told the story of when their dad would take the four youngest children (Mildred, Esther, Marvin and my mom) to town with him. He bought them a candy bar and divided it equally into four parts, giving each child their share. While the other three ate theirs, my mom would save hers until later. Then she would eat it in front of them.
Frances attended Bishop High School where she became friends with Elsie Schmidt and Doris Moerbe. These young ladies enjoyed dancing at Rob's Place in Robstown Texas. Elsie's parents, Hans and Mrs. Schmidt, took the teens and waited patiently in the car while the girls had fun. Frances graduated from Bishop High in 1947. Of all eight children in the family, only Mom and Marvin completed high school. She then went to work at the Celanese chemical plant in Bishop and was there for four years. When she was 23 years old, she caught the bus from Bishop to Corpus Christi where she applied for a receptionist/clerk position with The Superior Oil Company and was hired on the spot. She then went to the YWCA and searched for roommates on their Rolodex. With no car, her new roommates were happy to pick her up. She worked, enjoyed life, attended Del Mar College, took piano lessons and bought her first car and home on Vaky Street. She would meet with her four sisters for pie ("four black bottoms, please") and coffee in downtown Corpus. She dated and then met my dad through mutual friends. They married in June 1966 in the Lutheran church in Corpus Christi and soon after moved to Houston for dad's work with Shell Oil Co. I was born the following year. In about 1971, we moved to Victoria. Several years later, Mom went to work for the County of Victoria in the County Judge's office. She worked there for 20 years. As she grew older, she embraced her Wendish heritage. She saw it fitting that she donate the family baby cradle (where Mom and all her seven siblings slept) to the Texas Wendish Heritage Society and Museum in Serbin Texas; it is now on display there. She was an excellent seamstress and active member of Grace Lutheran Church - LCMS in Victoria Texas, Community Bible Study and Senior Circle.
Mom had a fulfilling life in so many ways and was deeply committed to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She is survived by her loving daughter Kerri Kahanek and Katelyn Kahanek, her only grandchild whom she adored, and much loved nieces and nephews. She lived to the oldest age of all sisters, brothers, in-laws and her parents. Frances was preceded in death by her husband William David "Dave" Kahanek on April 25, 2006 along with her parents, sisters Hattie Remmert (Pastor Will), Norene Theis (Edward), Mildred Michalk (Albert), Esther Michalk (Carl) and brothers Elmo (Anita "Nita" Somerfeld) Wuensche, Howard Wuensche and Marvin (Patricia "Pat" Tomlin) Wuensche, and several dear nieces, nephews and in-laws.
We sincerely thank Lori, Megan and Patricia, Mom's amazing caregivers at Silver Serenity Assisted Living. You sweet ladies provided the best in care and made her so happy! And we thank Crown Hospice and their wonderful team for making Mom's final days better.
Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church LCMS, Victoria Texas debt reduction fund, the Texas Wendish Heritage Society and Museum, Serbin Texas or donor's choice.
We love you and will miss you, Mom! "Well done, good and faithful servant." Matthew 25:21.
Visitation will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 9806 Zac Lentz Pkwy, Victoria, TX 77904, on June 3, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by the Funeral Service at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Thoughts and memories may be shared at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.
