Louise F. Kohr

Louise F. Kohr, 90, passed peacefully at 2:05 pm on November 8th in the presence of family at St Margaret’s Health Peru.

Private funeral services will be held at Hurst Funeral Home in Ladd. Burial will follow in the Ladd Cemetery.

Louise was born on March 3, 1931 to Michael and Pearl (Bernadoni) Tanari in Ladd Illinois, the first born of first generation Americans and the daughter of the last coal miner in Ladd, Illinois. She graduated Hall High School in 1949 as class valedictorian. 

She married Patrick Kohr in 1956 and had 6 children, Michael (Bonny) Kohr of Selby Township, Patrick Jr., John Kohr of Ladd, Maria (Matthew) Warren of Aledo,  Daniel Kohr of Dyer, Indiana, and Amy (Tom Krisko) Harmon of LaSalle. She had 4 grandchildren, Meaghan (Kohr) Jones, M. Ryan Kohr, Ashley (Kim) Sconzo, Nicole Kohr and 2 great-grandchildren Michael Jones and Selene Kohr.

On May 8, 1945, VE Day, Louise and her neighbor and classmate Denise Buff, excitedly ran to the Ladd School and began ringing the schoolyard bell before classes started. The principal, Mr. Charles Fiocchi, a strict disciplinarian came sprinting out of his office and pointedly asked them why they were ringing the bell. She and Denise happily exclaimed, “It’s VE Day Mr. Fiocchi!” Mr. Fiocchi smiled and told them, “Keep ringing the bell girls.”

A child of the Great Depression and WWII, Louise never lost her exuberance of the excitement and promise of a better tomorrow. After her husband retired she became an antiques dealer, particularly loved antique toys and was a regular at auctions and yard sales. She remained active, cross country skiing well into her 70’s and independent until her last two years when she moved in with her daughter Amy. She had a love for history and a keen sense of justice, prompting her to insist that her children read the book, “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.” She believed people had an obligation as citizens to stay active in current events and was defiantly insistent that she cast a vote, in person, in November of 2020 in spite of not being able stand without help.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Patrick Jr. in 1987, her beloved husband Patrick in 2013, and her sister Rita (Tanari) Galloway in March of 2021. Whenever we hear the sound of a bell we will always remember our mother Louise. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Hall Township Food Pantry.

 

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