Lila Koenecke's Obituary
Lila Koenecke (February 20, 1920 ---May 24, 2017)
Auntie Lila
Almost everyone called her Auntie Lila. She was a perfect auntie – always ready to provide a smile, a hug or a cookie and little comforting ice cream to a needy kid. Always understanding, sympathetic and kind to everyone, she spread her grace and charm with her own refreshing sense of humor.
She grew up in southern Minnesota during hard times. There was no central heating in the farm house and the outhouse seemed a mile away during blizzards. Lila, the oldest of four sisters and one brother worked the farm and went to the one-room school about a mile down the dirt road. She loved school and kept her love of learning her entire life. After high school she moved to Minneapolis and worked as a waitress in a famous creamery.
In 1943 she moved with her new husband Blackie (Lyle Koenecke) to Tacoma while he trained at Fort Lewis. When Blackie shipped out to Burma – Auntie Lila stayed in Tacoma and began working as a waitress at Hoyts – an old style café that had a big window where you could watch the doughnut maker. She said she served thousands of cups coffee in that place and later was the best waitress going at several other restaurants in town, like Busch’s. If you were lucky enough to get Auntie Lila for your waitress your food tasted great and fun was guaranteed.
She loved music, played the organ beautifully and became an exceptional artist. Her portraits of several young women are elegant.
Auntie Lila lived in Tacoma until 2010 when she moved back to Minnesota. She will be missed by all of us in Tacoma and by the many members of her family in Minnesota.
Graveside services will be held at Mountain View Funeral Home & Memorial Park at 2:30 PM on Friday, June 16, 2017.
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