Julia Louise Minnie Kelly Polfer
Julia Louise Minnie Kelly Polfer, 96, formerly of rural Olathe, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at 12:05 a.m., December 27, 2009 in Overland Park, Kansas.
Julia was born August 15, 1913 in Argentine, Kansas to Roy and Emma Kresin Kelly. After her father’s untimely death, four-year-old Julia, her brother, and their mother resided with her maternal grandparents, William and Lena Lau Kresin until their mother remarried Ernest Hirning of rural Olathe.
Julia graduated from DeSoto High School in 1931 and married her high school sweetheart, Roy E. Polfer, on November 29, 1933. As a wedding gift, Roy built a new house for Julia and there they raised four children. Early in their marriage, Julia and Roy were young entrepreneurs and operated a service station and The Night Hawk café at the current junction of K-7 Highway and 83rd Street in Lenexa. When they started a family, Roy traded the businesses for his first farm which he operated until 1979. They were a good team with Roy driving the tractor and Julia keeping everyone well fed.
After their children were raised, Julia entered the work force and was employed first at the DeSoto State Bank and later at Miller’s Department Store in Olathe, Kansas.
Following the death of her husband of 56 years, Julia continued to live on the farm until she was 93 and enjoyed playing cards, entertaining friends, watching basketball, mentoring her grandchildren, and attending historic Monticello United Methodist Church.
In addition to her parents and husband, Julia was preceded in death by her brother, William Kelly, her daughter Beverly Polfer Smith, and her half-sister Ernestine Hirning Tripkos.
Survivors include her children Janice (Ambrose) Kelly of Overland Park, Kansas, Neil (Mary) Polfer of Pittsburg, Kansas, and Kent (Barbara) Polfer of Leawood, Kansas; grandchildren Greg (Liz) Kelly of Leawood, Kansas, Kevin (Tammie) Kelly and Kathleen (Marquin) Reeves of Shawnee, Kansas, James Polfer of Lenexa, Kansas, Elizabeth (Joseph) Dombrowsky of Silver Spring, Maryland, Leigh Polfer of Washington, D.C., and Kelby Polfer of Leawood, Kansas; half-sisters Emma Jean Taylor of Eudora, Kansas and Lu (Jack) Davidson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; five great-grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
Julia will be remembered for her kind and generous nature, her genuine concern for those in need, her unwavering defense of the underdog, and her homemade chicken and noodles. The family expresses their heartfelt thanks to the staffs of Village Shalom and Kansas City Hospice for their compassionate care.
Memorial contributions may be made to Kansas City Hospice, 10100 W. 87th Street, Suite 100, Overland Park, Kansas 66212 or Monticello United Methodist Church, 23860 W. 75th Street, Shawnee, Kansas 66227.
Visitation and Funeral Service
A visitation will be held from 10 to 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at Monticello United Methodist Church, 23860 W. 75th Street, Shawnee, immediately followed by a celebration of her life at 11:00 a.m. Interment at Mt. Muncie Cemetery, Leavenworth, Kansas.
Print Obituary & Condolences
Offer Condolence for the family of Julia Louise Minnie Kelly Polfer
Messages of Condolence
Please share your thoughts ...
QR Code for this Obituary
Use your Smartphone to scan the QR Code on the right to access this page on your phone.Grief Video Series
Join Grief Expert, Doug Manning in his Journey Through Grief video series.
Watch the Grief Videos here.Would you like to order flowers?
If you would like to order flowers please see the selection available at Russell Florist. Click here to see all of the available floral arrangements.
How unfortunate to lose two aunts within two weeks…but, oh my!, I can imagine there is lots of celebrating right now in heaven…and it isn’t the quiet kind! Aunt Julia’s passing marks the completion of that generation of the Polfer family, and I just know that Grandma and Grandpa are relishing having the family all together again. Aunt Julia was a very special aunt. I loved my visits to their farm. She was a gracious hostess and always made me feel so welcome…plus I knew I would have something yummy to eat! I will cherish many wonderful memories and miss her greatly.
My sympathy to your family in the loss of your mother. I will always remember how kind she was to me and I have thought of her fondly over the years. She passed on the fifth year anniversary of my father’s passing and I still miss him.
Again, my thoughts are with you all at this time.
Barbara
Julia Louise’s family is in our hearts and prayers this week, knowing how much they loved her and will miss her. Each day is a precious gift to live and to remember. With love, the Scott family
Please accept out heartfelt sympathy. May the peace which comes from the memories of love shared, comfort you all now and in the days ahead. Prayers and Blessings, Bob and Kitzy Parker
Hugs and prayers from our family to yours. We have greatly appreciated the gift of hospitality that Julia and her family have shown to us. She will be missed on this earth but no doubt is the cause for celebrating in heaven. Love to all the Bob and Janet VanAllen family.
We have some very fond memories of my “oldest” cousin. She will be missed by all who knew her. She was one of the best. Our sympathy go out to all of the family. We regret that we were unable to attend the memorial service because of our icy, snowpacked side street. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Kent and Barb – I am so sad to hear of Julia’s passing as we were just with her on Christmas. I know it has been a tough road for your family over the past year but there were smiles to the end. I really enjoyed the brief time I spent with her. In her own way, I could tell she appreciated the assistance and interaction when I saw her at VS. She was well cared for during these difficult months. Please accept our deepest sympathies. Bridget and I will miss seeing her during our visits. Richard
I wanted to express my codolences and share a story about
your mom Julia.
Bob and I lived next door to Ernestine and Virgil Tripkos for
many years, when the “girls” starting playing cards once a week
we would hear a horn honking in front of our house, and would
always go see who was there. It look us a couple of times to
figure out it was Julia, she would starting honking at our house
and that was a signal for Ernestine to know she was almost there
and help her in the house.
Julia was a lovely lady and we all should be so fortunate to
live in your own home until the age of 93.
Boots Linden
Kent, I don’t know if you remember me, but I rented a duplex on Pflumm from you about ten years ago. I saw your mother’s obituary in the paper and wanted to convey my deepest sympathy to you and your family.