Emma Helen "Dutch" Ochs

Emma Helen Ochs was born June 21, 1921 to Phillip H. and Mary M. (Taylor) Gallagher on the family farm north of Park, Kansas. She passed away Sunday, October 28, 2012 at the Sheridan County Health Complex in Hoxie, Kansas at the age of 91. Emma Helen attended rural Sheridan County schools and graduated from Sheridan Community High School with the class of 1939. She was united in marriage to Clement Anton Ochs on August 18, 1941 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Park. They were blessed with 4 children, Larry, Carol, Deanna and Dan. She and the kids all had their jobs on the farm as farming was their life. Emma Helen also worked at Gambles for 13 winters. Emma Helen was a devoted wife and mother to her family. She loved spending many days with her grandchildren loving and spoiling them. She and Clem enjoyed their winters traveling south into Texas. She also enjoyed scrapbooking and bowling. Emma Helen collected antique dishes and had an extensive teapot collection. She had a special touch with food, especially her chocolate cake frosting. Emma Helen was a faithful member of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, St. Frances Cabrini Sodality, and HDU club for 25 years. She is survived by her sons, Larry & wife Virginia and Dan & wife Deb all of Grainfield; daughters, Carol Geerdes and Deanna Kennedy & husband Max all of Hoxie; brother, Frank Gallagher & wife Joyce of Hoxie; nine grandchildren, Doug Geerdes (Dana), Kevin Geerdes, Vic Geerdes (Kari), Brad Kennedy (Amy), Scott Kennedy (Tanya), Jodi Rogers (Brent), Shane Ochs (Donna), Amy Simmons (Mike), & Holly Creamer (Adam); twenty-seven great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Phillip & Mary Gallagher; husband, Clement; granddaughter, Melissa Herl; and son-in-law, Bob Geerdes. Sometimes, God places people in our lives who help and encourage us, even when we don’t know it. Emma Helen’s words and actions during her life demonstrated her faith in such a way that God’s message to us was preached even when there was no sermon. As family and friends share the loss of Emma Helen, our hearts will grow stronger with her memory.