Barber County Kansas

The Gyp Hill Premiere, February 18, 2008.

Joanne E abd Melvin W Prothe

Joanne E. Prothe, 78, died Sunday, February 10, 2008 at Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. She was born November 26, 1929 in Nippawha Township, Rural Barber County, Kansas, the daughter of A.N. and Marguerite (Green) Harbaugh. She lived in the same house she was born in her whole life except when she attended college and the last 9 days of her life, when she was hospitalized.

She attended country school, and rode horses for transportation. Joanne learned to drive in a 1947 1 ΒΌ ton truck, which the family still has today. After graduating high school she attended Emporia State University. Her mother would drive a car to Wichita, and she would ride the train to Emporia. She graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. There she met her husband of 41 years. On June 8, 1950 she married Melvin W. Prothe at Emporia, KS. After marrying Melvin she converted to the Lutheran Faith and was confirmed on Aug. 6, 1950 at Messiah Lutheran Church, Emporia.

A resident of Medicine Lodge, for most of her life, she was a farmer/rancher in Medicine Lodge since 1954 alongside her husband until his death on July 19, 1991.

Survivors include a son Craig Prothe and wife Sherry of Medicine Lodge, KS; a daughter Ann Keller and husband Larry of Kremlin, OK; a sister Mildred Magnison of Medicine Lodge, KS; four Grandchildren, Heather McDougal, Ashley Prothe, Tara Cecil, and Luke Keller; and 3 great grandchildren Quinn McDougal, Ashton Cecil and Claire McDougal. She taught her children and grandchildren to be ladies and gentlemen, and all to be safe.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and an infant brother.

Funeral services was held Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. at Trinity Lutheran Church. Pastor Dennis Fangmeyer officiated. Burial was in the Highland Cemetery in Medicine Lodge. Memorials may be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church or Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.larrisonmortuary.com


Thanks to Kevin Noland, publisher of The Gyp Hill Premiere, Medicine Lodge, Kansas, for permission to republish the above obituary from his newspaper.
http://www.gyphillpremiere.com/




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