Barbara Louise Kokenes (Maynard) passed away February 25, 2020 after a fall on the 9th. She was born April 23, 1929, the only child of Raymond and Marie Maynard, in Harrisburg, Illinois.
She met George Kokenes at Springfield College. They had daughters Paula Demlow (Bill), Kim Tchun (Norman), and Stephanie Loofboro (Gary) while students at Michigan State University where they earned their degrees in education. She taught elementary, then special education in Belvidere, Illinois followed by teaching at Northern Illinois University. Barbara earned her Masters degree from the University of Illinois and her Doctorate in Education in educational psychology, learning disabilities, and methods of research at NIU. After divorcing in 1971, Barbara was an associate professor of education at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. After retiring in 1993, Barbara moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina where she lived until 2017 where declining health brought her back to family in Illinois.
She taught herself to sail and traded in her first sailboat for an ocean-worthy Cape Dory. She traveled extensively in Europe, Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Japan, and New Zealand. She was extremely creative: knitting, quilting, counted cross stitch. She was a Silver Life Master in Duplicate Bridge and read 3-4 books a week.
She was a great-grandmother and grandmother to: David Demlow (Shari) and Katrina (27) and Abby (25); Lori DeLaurie and Cassandra (22); Keri Duenkel (Mike) and Bret (18) and Lauren (14); Jarret Loofboro (Heidi) and Savannah (5) and Eli (5); Jana Loofboro and Emma (11).
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Barbara Louise Kokenes, please visit our Tribute Store.
Cremation Society of Illinois handled arrangements. Services will be private. Posted on their website on February 27th, 2020.
She met George Kokenes at Springfield College. They had daughters Paula Demlow (Bill), Kim Tchun (Norman), and Stephanie Loofboro (Gary) while students at Michigan State University where they earned their degrees in education. She taught elementary, then special education in Belvidere, Illinois followed by teaching at Northern Illinois University. Barbara earned her Masters degree from the University of Illinois and her Doctorate in Education in educational psychology, learning disabilities, and methods of research at NIU. After divorcing in 1971, Barbara was an associate professor of education at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. After retiring in 1993, Barbara moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina where she lived until 2017 where declining health brought her back to family in Illinois.
She taught herself to sail and traded in her first sailboat for an ocean-worthy Cape Dory. She traveled extensively in Europe, Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Japan, and New Zealand. She was extremely creative: knitting, quilting, counted cross stitch. She was a Silver Life Master in Duplicate Bridge and read 3-4 books a week.
She was a great-grandmother and grandmother to: David Demlow (Shari) and Katrina (27) and Abby (25); Lori DeLaurie and Cassandra (22); Keri Duenkel (Mike) and Bret (18) and Lauren (14); Jarret Loofboro (Heidi) and Savannah (5) and Eli (5); Jana Loofboro and Emma (11).
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Barbara Louise Kokenes, please visit our Tribute Store.
Cremation Society of Illinois handled arrangements. Services will be private. Posted on their website on February 27th, 2020.
Barbara Louise Kokenes (Maynard) passed away February 25, 2020 after a fall on the 9th. She was born April 23, 1929, the only child of Raymond and Marie Maynard, in Harrisburg, Illinois.
She met George Kokenes at Springfield College. They had daughters Paula Demlow (Bill), Kim Tchun (Norman), and Stephanie Loofboro (Gary) while students at Michigan State University where they earned their degrees in education. She taught elementary, then special education in Belvidere, Illinois followed by teaching at Northern Illinois University. Barbara earned her Masters degree from the University of Illinois and her Doctorate in Education in educational psychology, learning disabilities, and methods of research at NIU. After divorcing in 1971, Barbara was an associate professor of education at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. After retiring in 1993, Barbara moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina where she lived until 2017 where declining health brought her back to family in Illinois.
She taught herself to sail and traded in her first sailboat for an ocean-worthy Cape Dory. She traveled extensively in Europe, Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Japan, and New Zealand. She was extremely creative: knitting, quilting, counted cross stitch. She was a Silver Life Master in Duplicate Bridge and read 3-4 books a week.
She was a great-grandmother and grandmother to: David Demlow (Shari) and Katrina (27) and Abby (25); Lori DeLaurie and Cassandra (22); Keri Duenkel (Mike) and Bret (18) and Lauren (14); Jarret Loofboro (Heidi) and Savannah (5) and Eli (5); Jana Loofboro and Emma (11).
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Barbara Louise Kokenes, please visit our Tribute Store.
Cremation Society of Illinois handled arrangements. Services will be private. Posted on their website on February 27th, 2020.
She met George Kokenes at Springfield College. They had daughters Paula Demlow (Bill), Kim Tchun (Norman), and Stephanie Loofboro (Gary) while students at Michigan State University where they earned their degrees in education. She taught elementary, then special education in Belvidere, Illinois followed by teaching at Northern Illinois University. Barbara earned her Masters degree from the University of Illinois and her Doctorate in Education in educational psychology, learning disabilities, and methods of research at NIU. After divorcing in 1971, Barbara was an associate professor of education at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. After retiring in 1993, Barbara moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina where she lived until 2017 where declining health brought her back to family in Illinois.
She taught herself to sail and traded in her first sailboat for an ocean-worthy Cape Dory. She traveled extensively in Europe, Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Japan, and New Zealand. She was extremely creative: knitting, quilting, counted cross stitch. She was a Silver Life Master in Duplicate Bridge and read 3-4 books a week.
She was a great-grandmother and grandmother to: David Demlow (Shari) and Katrina (27) and Abby (25); Lori DeLaurie and Cassandra (22); Keri Duenkel (Mike) and Bret (18) and Lauren (14); Jarret Loofboro (Heidi) and Savannah (5) and Eli (5); Jana Loofboro and Emma (11).
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Barbara Louise Kokenes, please visit our Tribute Store.
Cremation Society of Illinois handled arrangements. Services will be private. Posted on their website on February 27th, 2020.
Gravesite Details
Cremated remains were given to the family. Upon her daughter's passing, she will be interred in an indoor glass cremation niche located inside the back mausoleum at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Machesney Park, Illinois.
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