Surnames: Kania, Rohde, Zortman, Zwiers, Rogalla, Harzke, Pfister, Eckhart

---Source: Wausau Daily Herald (Wausau, Marathon Co., Wis.) Tuesday, 27 July 2004

---Kania, Florence M. (29 Jan. 1918 - 25 July 2004)

Florence M. Kania

Florence M. Kania, age 86, 215 Grand Ave., Merrill, died Sunday, July 25, 2004, at Good Samaritan Health Center, Merrill.

Florence was born Jan. 29, 1918, in Lark, N.D., daughter of the late Jerry and Katherine (Rohde) Zortman. She married Hugo Kania Oct. 18, 1941, in Merrill. He preceded her in death May 3, 1986.

Florence, along with her late husband, owned and operated the former Kania Hardware Store in Merrill's Sixth Ward. She was a member of St. Stephen's United Church of Christ, Merrill. Florence was an avid reader. She enjoyed needlework, and she made and sold Barbie doll clothes to area children.

Survivors include one daughter, Janice (Robert) Zwiers, Chicago; one son, Richard (Jackie) Kania, Stevens Point; one granddaughter, Melissa Rogalla, Chicago; two grandsons, Charles and John Kania, both of Stevens Point; two sisters, Joyce Harzke and Shirley Pfister, both of Merrill; one brother, Lyndon (Mabel) Zortman, Plover; and many nieces and nephews. One sister and seven brothers precede Florence in death.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 28, 2004, at the Taylor & Stine Funeral Home, Merrill. The Rev. Earl Eckhart will officiate. Burial will be in Merrill Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, and after 9 a.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home.