Faye. I Pohl

Faye. Irene (Moler) Pohl, age 90, died Thursday morning, July 20, 2017, at Via Christi St. Francis, Wichita, Kansas.

She was born at home in Meade, KS on December 21, 1926, the second daughter of Millard and Elfa (Thompson) Moler. She attended Artesian Valley School, north of Meade until 7th grade, then completed the rest of her education in Meade, graduating from Meade High School in 1944. Following graduation, she worked as a bookkeeper for the Chevrolet dealership in Meade up until her marriage to Leonard Paul Pohl on August 8, 1947 at McPherson, Kansas. She later gave birth to three children — Patricia Faye (1951), Leesa Kaye (1956), and Leonard Paul, Jr. (1958).

Family was important to her, and Faye always strived to support them in any way she could. Her family was closely knit and were devastated when her two younger sisters, Phyllis and Louise, perished in a blizzard in 1948. There was deep heartache, and yet the calm assurance that her sisters were safe in the arms of Jesus. For Faye, life was a team effort and she was right there helping her husband in all of the things they endeavored to do and supporting him in the hard times they went through. Her faith in God, discovered at an early age, sustained her through the years.

From their first home in Meade City, Faye and Leonard moved to the family farm south of Meade, where they farmed up until 1964 when they returned to town. In 1966, they purchased the Crestwood Motel in Boulder, Colorado, which they operated until July of 1968. Finding motel life rather confining, they sold it and moved to Idaho, where they purchased and operated a hardware store/lumber yard in Kuna, ID. Toward the end of their stay in Idaho, Faye became the main breadwinner, working as night admissions clerk and switchboard operator for Mercy Medical Center, while Leonard attended Boise State University as a business/accounting major. In 1972, a business came up for sale in Meade and the Pohls moved back home again. There they operated Pohl Accounting for a number of years while farming an acreage west of Meade. Faye was responsible for the accounts of the hospital, three nursing homes, and the doctor’s office, among others.

Upon retirement in 1997, they moved to Hutchinson, Kansas to be a little closer to the grandchildren. Shortly thereafter, Faye was elected treasurer for the National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union; Leonard aided as circulation manager. During her tenure as treasurer, they traveled the country to national conventions. In 1996 Faye was able to visit her grandmother Krecji’s native land, Czechloslavakia, when daughter Leesa took her parents and family abroad. They also visited Germany, where Leonard had been stationed just after World War II.

Faye was a survivor and active to the end. 2005 began a hard time in her life. Leonard was injured in a car accident and after 81 days in the hospital, passed away on September 1, 2005. In the next three years, Faye battled colon cancer, and survived. Then her son-in-law passed away from cancer in the fall of 2009. Soon after, she returned to Meade to live closer to daughter Trish, continuing to work for WCTU of Kansas as their treasurer until just a few months prior to her death.

Faye was especially close to her sister, Esther. They spent many hours together on evening walks, took vacations together occasionally, and in later years talked by phone nearly every night. She loved her grandchildren and proudly, but nervously (she had never driven that far by herself) drove to granddaughter, Emily’s graduation from Basic Training in the National Guard at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO in 2014. Jordan and Makenzie often spent time with her at Country Gospel Music Conventions where the family performed in various ways. She loved to entertain family and others in her home, and to travel around touching base with loved ones and friends.

Church was important to Faye. She was a member of the Church of the Nazarene since her youth. She hosted traveling missionaries and evangelists, and served as a Sunday School teacher, children’s leader, teen sponsor, senior adult ministeries coordinator, missionary president, and missionary treasurer. She received a Distinguished Service Award for outstanding service to the local church in 1995.

Faye was also a member of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, and the Country Gospel Music Association. She enjoyed reading, watching Jeopardy, playing Rummy Q, doing puzzles, and cooking. She will long be remembered for her gift of hospitality, opening her home to many to enjoy a good meal and fellowship. Following the death of her son-in-law, Paul, she and daughter, Trish, began to sing for various events and were known as The Merry Widows (later the Merry Hearts). At age 88, Faye recorded her first album along with Trish, a southern gospel project called “Jesus, Mommy, and Me.” She loved singing about Jesus and telling the story of how He helped her through the hard times in the journey of life. She also enjoyed being involved with the WCTU educational contests each year and being able to tell children about the dangers of alcohol and other drugs.

She is survived by a son, Leonard Pohl, Jr, (Marina) of Pratt, Kansas; two daughters, Patricia Reimer (David B.) of Meade, and Leesa Pohl of Kansas City, Missouri; a sister, Esther Barnes of Bella Vista, Arkansas; three grandchildren, Emily Kramer (Veronika) of Kansas City, Jordan Pohl of Mulvane, Kansas, and Makenzie Pohl of Kansas City; and one great granddaughter, Sophie.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and two sisters, Phyllis and Louise Moler, who perished in a snowstorm in 1948.

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, July 30, 2017, at the Church of the Nazarene, Meade. Cremation has taken place. Inurnment will follow the service in the Graceland Cemetery, Meade.

The family would welcome memorials to the Church of the Nazarene NMI Missions or WCTU of Kansas in care of Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade.

Personal condolences may be given to the family at www.fidlerormebachmanmortuary.com