Kosanke, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Kosanke
KOSANKE BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME
KOUTS, INDIANA
1882-1976
A continuous successful business in its third generation having been established in 1882 by Ewalt R. Kosanke, who came to Kouts from Wanatah with his wife, the former Matilda Rosenbaum.
They raised a family of three sons, Herman F., William F., and Edward A., and three daughters, Mrs. Annette Humphrey, Mrs. Laura E. Wulf and Miss Anna Kosanke.
Ewalt built a building on the present site of the Kouts Hardware and there made and repaired furniture. When a village blacksmith died a mortician from Valparaiso had to come to Kouts by horse and wagon to take care of the funeral. At that time Ewalt was approached to take up the undertaking business in conjunction with his furniture making. He then made the caskets for his business.
His three sons followed him in the business. Herman, the eldest son who married Florence Wells, joined his father in business in the year 1900. They had three daughters, Mrs. Lucile Weninger, Mrs. Charolet Corson and Mrs. Mary McCuaig.
William, who married Clara Behrends, joined his father and brother in business in the year 1912. They had two daughters, Mrs. Myrtle Bodecker and Mrs. Lorraine Britt.
Edward, the youngest of the sons, joined his brothers in the year 1924. He married Lena Lampl and they had one son, James, who presently operates the funeral home in Kouts.
James, who joined his father and two uncles in 1948, married Joan Edwards. They have one son, Edward J., and one daughter, Mrs. Sue Schoon, and a grandson, Anthony Schoon. A second son was born in March 1876 and was named Nicholas James.
For many years the Kosanke Brothers operated furniture and funeral business in the towns of Kouts, LaCrosse and Union Mills.
In 1941 a funeral chapel was built on the home site of the late Ewalt Kosanke, with additional improvements being made in the years of 1960 and 1964.
James and his wife Joan now live in the funeral home.
Source: American Revolution Bicentennial Committee of Porter County. 1976. A Biographical History of Porter County, Indiana. Valparaiso, Indiana: American Revolution Bicentennial Committee of Porter County, Inc. 180 p.
Page(s) in Source: 128
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook