Caroline passed away aged 97 in the loving presence of her family. Mourning her passing are her daughter Casseda Parsons (Terry) and granddaughter Maggie; son Dr. Larry Kohse (Rita), grandson William Kohse, grandson Robert Kohse (Julie Anne) and great-grandson Logan; and many extended family members, neighbours and friends. Caroline was predeceased by her husband Captain Fred Kohse, daughters Valerie and Colleen and infant son Fredrick Jr.
Caroline was born in Vancouver, the only child of pre-WWI German immigrant parents whose marriage blended two families and gave Caroline two sets of older siblings. Her mother was a settler in Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) over a century ago. Caroline inherited and owned that property, until recently, to provide her own family with a vestige of her mother’s and BC’s history. Growing up in post-WWI Vancouver east side and going to school was challenging because of public resentment over the war and her German heritage.
After graduating high school Caroline joined Canada’s WWII effort in 1944 and became a “Rosie the Riveter” worker for Boeing Aircraft on Sea Island, assembling PBY seaplanes for military reconnaissance use. Several of these planes are still in use today. Tillie, a co-worker at Boeing, became one of her life-long friends.
Following WW2, Caroline took a hair styling course, but her career ended when interrupted by romantic interests – she met Captain Fred Kohse. Fred was also the child of a German immigrant and had spent the earliest part of his life during WWI with his parents in Vernon in a Canadian internment camp for Germans. Fred eventually became a successful commercial fisherman in BC, the Maritimes and internationally. In 1946 Caroline joined him in South America and they married. A year later Caroline returned to Canada where their first child was born.
By the early 50’s the family had moved to Prince Rupert where fishing was better being closer to the fishing grounds of the Gulf of Alaska. However, as Fred was away fishing much of the time and more children came along, small town life and a lack of amenities became challenging. On a return trip to Prince Rupert from Vancouver, the seaplane Caroline was in crashed into the bay. Caroline was the last to get out of the sinking plane and into the water and finally a rescue boat, with a babe in arms. Then, a few months later it happened again! Understandably, Caroline was not enamoured with flying and became a “white knuckle flyer”. However, her fear of flying did not stop her from travelling with her children as long as she was firstly plied with a “health drink”.
The developing fishing business kept Fred away from home most of the time so by the mid-50’s the family had moved back to Burnaby to be closer to schools, hospitals and more assistance. Access to doctors and hospitals had become a necessity because several of their children had cystic fibrosis (CF), an incurable genetic disease affecting the respiratory and digestive systems. Little was known about the care and treatment of people with CF and few medicines had been developed. Sadly, over time, Caroline and Fred would lose three children to the disease or its long-term effects.
Caroline was a fierce mother grizzly when it came to the wellbeing of her family, particularly her sick children. Nutrition, medical treatment and education were paramount. For Caroline this also included taking care of her own mother for twenty-five years along with numerous cats, dogs, budgies and other neighbourhood kids. Eventually they found the Burnaby home too small and poorly located and moved to a larger home in Vancouver. This yard was large enough for the children to play and have a swimming pool, and some better schools, hospitals and other amenities were located nearby. Time passed and two of her adult children left home and began raising families of the own. During this time Caroline’s own health was jeopardized by breast cancer. She won that battle.
In 1988, her youngest daughter Colleen travelled to London England for a heart-lung transplant in a last-ditch effort to save her life from the ravages of CF. Caroline accompanied Colleen, despite the fear of flying, and nursed her through the long waiting period, the transplant operation and the potentially fatal recovery period, given that transplantation and rejection management were new medical sciences. With Caroline’s care Colleen survived and lived a further thirty years.
By the 2000’s Caroline and Fred had three grandchildren and were glad to know that all had gone on to successful lives and careers. Fred retired from fishing and had sold his company some years earlier – and sadly passed away in 2001. Interestingly, at that point Caroline and Colleen switched roles. After forty years of Caroline caring for Colleen, Colleen began taking care of Caroline, house and home, until Colleen herself passed away in 2018. With Colleen’s passing Caroline’s physical health began a gradual decline however she was as bright and hawk-eyed as ever until the end and she rejoiced at hearing of her first great-grandson’s birth.
The wonderful things that Caroline did for her family and friends will not be forgotten and her indomitable spirit and sense of humour will be missed by all. A life well lived, well loved.
We thank Dr. Conrad Rusnak and all of Caroline’s care aides for their kind attention to her through her final years.
“A celebration of Life to be Announced.”.