Obituary index

Flossie Sampen

[February 11, 2010]  EMDEN -- Flossie Mae McWhorter Sampen, 101, of Emden, died Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln.

Visitation will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, at Holland Barry & Bennett Funeral Home in Lincoln. Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Dayle Badman officiating.

Burial will be in Hartsburg Union Cemetery, Hartsburg.

Flossie was born Oct. 4, 1908, in Winkler, Mo., a daughter of William P. and Mahala Susan Plank McWhorter. The family moved to Illinois in 1918. She married Albert H. Sampen in Delavan. They were married 65 years, and he preceded her in death on April 6, 1993.

She is survived by her two sons, Gerald A. (and Jeanne) Sampen of Emden and Kenneth (and Darla) Sampen of Bloomington; one daughter, Audrey (and Jerry) Ward of Fremont, Mich.; eight grandchildren, Nancy (and Bob) Lerner of Geneva, Diane (and Darwin) McPherson of Peoria, the Rev. Bill (and Amy) Sampen of Brownsburg, Ind., Lori (and Hugh) Coffman of Bloomington, Tawni (and Clay) Martin of Bloomington, Karen (and Rob) Roelofs of Allen Park, Mich., Linda (and Mark) Seitz of Carmel, Ind., and Michelle (and Art) Schlaud of Kansas City, Mo.; 18 great-grandchildren; two nieces; two nephews; and many more dear relatives and friends.

She was also preceded in death by two brothers; four sisters; and one great-grandson, Gavin Coffman.

Her husband was an Emden farmer and a dedicated member of the Emden community and of his church, Zion United Methodist in Emden. Flossie was a devoted wife and mother of their two sons and daughter. The family became very active in the church, community and various school activities.

She taught Sunday school classes for many years, was a member of the church board and the choir, held many offices in the women's organizations, and enjoyed serving a term on the district board of the United Methodist Women. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Emden, the Delavan Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star since 1926, and a member of the former Logan County Homemakers, Emden Unit.

As a young woman she was employed as cashier at George Watts Grocery in downtown Lincoln. Later in life the unexpected pleasure of helping Gerald and Jeanne Sampen in the children's clothing store in Emden was very fulfilling. Flossie loved helping the public.

Quilting and crocheting afghans for her family was her favorite pastime. She also enjoyed reading and was an avid sports fan. She always enjoyed watching her boys playing softball, then baseball and basketball, and then cheering on her only grandson, Bill Sampen, a pitcher in the major leagues.

She graduated with honors from Delavan High School.

Flossie praised her Heavenly Father for his guidance and the blessings of her devoted husband and family through the peaks and the valleys of those wonderful years.

Memorial donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, in care of Bill Sampen; Grace Bible Building Fund, Bill Sampen, pastor; Gideons International, Logan Camp; or to the organization of the donor's choice. Donations will be accepted at the funeral home.

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