Mildred Fannie Parks Koehler was born March 24, 1921 in Hiawatha, KS to Samuel W. and Fannie Freiley Parks. Mildred graduated from Hiawatha High School Class of 1939 and continued her education at Highland Junior College, Highland, KS, graduating as a Medical Secretary. She then accepted a position in Lafayette, Indiana as a private secretary to a pathologist. In 1941 when World War II came along and the pathologist doctor was called into service as a Major, Mildred decided to return to Kansas and chose to work at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS.
Mildred had met James (Jim) Koehler of Falls City, NE on a blind date the fall of 1939. Their courtship continued even in her absence in Indiana, and were married February 19, 1943 and enjoyed almost 56 years together. After Jim’s demise February 2, 1999, Mildred moved to Presbyterian Manor Independent Living in Wichita, KS to be close to her surviving family.
Their one child, Richard (Dick) Koehler was physically handicapped his entire life with his care being Mildred’s main dedication. He deceased March 30, 2001 at the age of 56.
Besides her husband Jim and her son Dick, preceding her in death were her mother, father and siblings, Mary Parks Mueller, Halla Parks Tolles, Ruby and Emma Parks, Robert and Wayne Parks Sr.
Surviving family are her niece Dorothy Mueller Wright Hiawatha, KS niece Nancy Christensen (Bredo) Humble, TX and nephew Ken Koehler (Shirley) Treynor, IA and several other nieces and nephew.
Funeral Services will be 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday December 18, 2018 at Lakeview Cemetery, Wichita.
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