Flora Henriette Punches

Mrs. Flora Henriette Punches of Palmer passed away May 4, 2010, at age 96. She was born Aug. 18, 1913, in Muskegon, Mich. She has been an Alaska resident since 1952.

A funeral will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla with Rev. Stu Mitchell officiating.

Her family wrote, “Mom loved to cook and she did it well. Even set with the simplest of fare, her table offered up delicacies fit for a king and enough of it to feed the king’s court. There was no such thing as an uninvited guest around the table because everyone who stopped in was offered her generous hospitality. Mom also loved her flowers. Bouquets from her garden were always found gracing her home, the homes of those she loved and the church she attended. Her family was her pride and joy, and she cheered them on in their undertakings and smiled proudly at each accomplishment. But most of all she prayed for each of them daily. Mom, most of all, loved her Lord Jesus. That love was demonstrated in many acts of service that she performed in her local church and for friends and strangers, not the least of which was baking hundreds of cookies every year for the Bible and camp programs that she prayed for faithfully.”

She is survived by her daughters, Virgina (Dick) Bowen, Dorthy Ponchez, her son William (Carol) Punches, daughter-in-law Evvie Garis, grandchildren Randy (Pat) Niesen, Laurie Ebenezer, Lana (Alan) Anderson, Greg (Len) Niesen, Kim (Jerry) Bloomstrom, Eloise Bowen, Mike (Marsha) Bowen, Larry Neitz, Kate Neitz-Paul, Bob Neitz, Karen (Tony) Leadbeter, Diane (Mark) O’Malley, Evvie Lynn Punches and Bill Punches; great-grandchildren Jim Christianson, Whitney O’Malley, Lawerence (Libby) Niesen, Charity Ebenezer, Chad Ebenezer, Andrew Anderson, Emily Anderson, Jeremy (Kristi) Bloomstrom, Jaleen Bloomstrom, Alex Paul, Nakiah Paul, Brittney Neitz, Amalee Bowen, Kenzie Bowen, Joseph Bowen, Sami Bowen, Gabe Niesen, Isaac Niesen and Mason Wille. She had three great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence, daughter, Eloise Niesen, sons-in-law John Niesen and Richard Neitz, and grandson Rick Bowen.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rescue Mission or the charity of your choice.

Funeral arrangements made by Valley Funeral Home.