Eleanor A. Zohn

Eleanor A. Zohn, the only daughter of George and Lucille (Mahaffey) Barleen, was born November 1, 1933, in Rural Scandia, KS and passed away at Sunset Home in Concordia, KS on Thursday January 16, 2025, at the age of 91 years, 2 months, and 15 days after a long battle with renal failure. Eleanor attended Country School and then graduated from Concordia High School in 1951. On December 28, 1952 she was united in marriage to Darrell E. Zohn at the Baptist Parsonage in Belleville, KS. From this union, three children were born; Randall Eugene Zohn, Rodney Dean Zohn, and Rebecca Lynne Zohn. Eleanor loved the farm life from an early age, spending time with her Grandpa Charlie Barleen and her dad, George. Her life was a reflection of dedication to family, hard work, and a deep love for the land.
Her son, Randy, always said most people work their way through college, but Eleanor worked her way through high school. She always had a job, starting at the grocery store in Concordia during high school. She would return to the farm on weekends to help her dad. The local banker in Concordia visited the grocery store and asked Eleanor to come work for his bank. Her love for numbers started while working at the bank. After graduation, her marriage, and birth of Randy, the three moved to Great Bend for Darrell's job. She was the bookkeeper for the Great Bend city office. On weekends she played short stop on a women's traveling softball team. After a few years, her dad encouraged the couple to move home to work on the family farm. Shortly thereafter, Rodney then Rebecca were born. Eleanor raised her children while working with the farm's hogs, cattle, and bottle-fed sheep. She and Darrell owned a dog kennel, which became a special passion of hers. It was during this time that her love for bulldogs blossomed, and she developed a deep affection for the breed. She was involved in her children and grandchildren's many interests. Family was the foundation of Eleanor's life.
In 1973, she started at Cloud County Community College. She worked her way up into the accounting department. Eleanor retired in 1990, after 17 years of dedicated service, to help care for her parents. With her retirement came a return to the life she had always cherished-life on the family farm.
She had two televisions; one for regular TV and one for sports. She loved all sports but never missed watching a Royals, K-State, or Chief's game. Her most meaningful passions involved her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many friends.
Eleanor was proceeded in death by her parents George and Lucille Barleen, her husband Darrell Zohn, grandson Ryan Zohn, and sister-in-law Aurel Elliott.
She is survived by two sons; Randy Zohn (Kathi) Newton, KS and Rod Zohn (Lorita) Norway, KS, a daughter; Becky Reed (Bob) Courtland, KS and sister-in-law Sheryl Andersen, Concordia, KS. Grandchildren include Shannon Kirtley (Aaron), Natasha Elwood, Stephan Zohn (Rachel), Blake Reed (Ali), and Brittany Vigilious (Daniel). Great-grandchildren include Eli Kirtley, Cole Kirtley, Aaron Elwood, Peyton Elwood, Nalaina Underwood, Landry Zohn, Liam Zohn, Charlotte Zohn, Griffin McNeil, Bowen Reed, and Lucille Reed.
Visitation and viewing will be 1pm-7pm on Monday, January 20, 2025 at Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS with the family greeting friends from 5pm-7pm on Monday. Private family graveside services will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, rural Norway, KS,with Pastor Kathy Aeillo, officiating.
Memorials are suggested to the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery or Gentiva Hospice.
Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, 1322 19th ST, Belleville, KS is assisting the family.
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