Emma Kukovich Larson

Emma Kukovich Larson passed away March 7, 2009, at the Sweet Life of Rosehill, in Shawnee, Kansas after a long illness.

She was born on July 4, 1921, in Weir, Kansas to Mary (Preslan) and Pete Kukovich, who immigrated from the area of Celji, Slovenia at the turn of the century. She was one of eleven children, and lived most of her young life in the small community of Daisy Hill, north of Weir, in which lived immigrants from Slovenia, Germany, and Austria who worked in the coal mines. Her mother died when Emma was 3 years old, and her father raised his family by himself with the support of family and friends. They were a very close family that celebrated life every day with laughter and love. Emma attended Coal Valley Grade School in Weir, and graduated from Weir High School in 1941. She attended St. Margaret’s School of Nursing from 1941-1945, graduating at the head of her class. Her nursing career spanned 30 years, working at St. Margaret’s, Kansas Ordinance Plant in Parsons, Kansas, and the Winfield State Hospital in Winfield, Kansas. She married Edward Wilson Larson on June 2, 1945, also of Weir, Kansas. They were married 52 years. They had one daughter, Conna Lou Larson.

Emma was preceded in death by her parents, Pete and Mary Kukovich; brothers Pete Kukovich, Joseph Kukovich and Bill Kukovich; sisters Josephine Kukovich, Agnes Kukovich, Rose Kukovich Schmidtt, Marge Kukovich Danaher and Madeline Kukovich Allen. She is survived by her daughter Conna Larson Hiltner and husband Orin of Shawnee, Kansas; granddaughters Kari and Kelly Hiltner also of Shawnee; sister Mary Kukovich LeMasters of Grafton, Illinois; and brother Frank Kukovich of Carbondale, Kansas. In addition, she leaves many wonderful and loving nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic Charities or Disabled American Veterans.

Visitation and Funeral Service

Services will be at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee, on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 2 p.m. Visitation is from 1 p.m.- 2 p.m. Interment will be at St. Anthony’s Cemetery in Weir, Kansas, on Saturday, March 14, 2009, graveside services only.

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