Lawana Kohman

Lawana Kohman, age 97, went to be with her Lord on January 15th. She was born in 1927 to Alva and Leora (Myers) Webb of Barnard, the first baby born in the new Lincoln Hospital.
After graduating from Beverly Rural High School in 1945, she attended summer classes at Kansas Wesleyan, Salina, for her teaching certification. Lawana taught for two years at Pleasant Valley, a rural school south of Lincoln. In December 1949, she completed a Christian Education degree from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. In 1952, she graduated from Fort Hays State with a bachelor's degree in English. She received her master's degree in English and speech from Kansas State University in 1959.
Lawana was a woman of faith. In the seventh grade, she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior after listening to a service on the radio. Her mother helped her understand what Jesus had provided for her. She taught vacation Bible school
and Sunday school classes and continued involvement through the years with Scripture memory camps, women's Bible studies, sharing scriptures, and praying for friends and family.
Lawana loved teaching and laid a foundation in English, Communications, and life for several generations of students who attended her classes. She taught at Sheridan Community High School, Hoxie, for five years and then at Lincoln High School for three years.
On Sept. 2, 1960, Lawana and Paul Kohman of Hope were married at First Baptist Church in Barnard. Mark was born in 1962, and Monte in 1964.
Five years later, Lawana taught seventh graders at Hope, and the following year, she began teaching English, speech, and journalism classes at Hope High School. She also served as a forensics sponsor, class sponsor, and adviser for the school newspaper.
She retired in 1992 after 24 years of teaching at Hope. She then taught public speaking one evening a week for 21 years in Hope and Herington for Cloud County Community College. She stopped teaching at the age of 86 when Paul needed her care.
Lawana was also a cheerleader, supporter, and friend in the communities where she taught. She loved her sports, especially during the years Mark and Monte played. Even after retiring, you would find her in the stands cheering on the Hope teams. During the years, she also loved attending alumni reunions in Hoxie, Lincoln, and Hope, where she had a chance to reconnect with the students she taught. She leaves behind a legacy of students who were impacted by the life of Mrs. Kohman (Miss Webb).
Lawana was also a master gardener and a fantastic cook. She would make delicious meals for family and friends. Some students still remember the kolaches she would make for them.
Preceding Lawana in death were her husband, Paul Kohman; her parents, Alva and Leora Webb; and sisters, Sandra Webb and Waloka Nelson.
Surviving are her two sons, Mark and his wife Wendy of Colorado Springs, CO, and Monte and his wife Marianne, who live on the family farm after Paul and Lawana moved to Hope; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and sister Thayla Adams of Florida.
Visitation will be from 5:00 - 8:00 PM on Friday, February 7, 2025, at First Baptist Church, Herington. Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at First Baptist Church, Herington. Lawana had decided to have her body donated to the University of Kansas Medical Center. Memorials may be given in memory of Lawana to the "Hope Community Education Endowment Association" (Checks can be sent to Monte Kohman, 1154 300th Ave, Hope, KS 67451)