Elsie E. Focht

Elsie “Les” E. Focht

April 23, 1931 – May 15, 2024

The Focht family would like to share that Elsie E. Focht, 93 years young, went to be with her Lord and Savior on May 15, 2024.

Elsie was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 23, 1931. She was the only child of Hermann and Hedwig Knodel, who had recently emigrated from Germany. Though an only child, she had several cousins who also lived in the Chicago area. She cherished her extended family; they were all very close and spent much time together. During the hot Chicago summers, she and her cousin Hilda enjoyed swimming in the icy waters of Lake Michigan.

Elsie attended Sullivan High School, where she was recognized as one of the school’s “most valuable assets.” She gave her time as a member (and once vice president) of the Student Council, the Baton Corps, and the National Honor Society. Her love of music led her to be president of the Girls Choir and playing piano as a hobby.

She left Chicago to attend Iowa State University in pursuit of a Home Economics degree and joined the Chi Omega sorority. While at Iowa State she would meet some of her best friends and her future husband, Dallas “Jack” J. Focht Jr. After marrying, they finally settled in Omaha, NE, in a small house near Westgate Elementary School. That would be her home for the next sixty-seven years, where she and Jack would raise five children.

As her own family grew, they would make annual trips to Chicago to spend time with her parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and their growing families. It was always such a fun and loving reunion and the kids looked forward to it every year. Jack’s family lived in Omaha, so she was also blessed to get to know and love her new brothers and sister, and their spouses, as her own. All of their growing families shared many holiday dinners and other celebrations much to her heart’s content.

She and Jack were involved in the community as members of the Omaha Jaycees, the Community Club, church members, bridge players, and a dance club and enjoyed great relationships with friends and neighbors. Later, she and Jack had the house to themselves for about ten years, until Jack passed away in 1990. After that she continued to be active and enjoy spending time with her friends, family, and the growing families of her children. She adored her grandchildren, and especially liked the thrills and laughter that came with a long game of Farkle.

Elsie was a stay-at-home mom until 1967, when she started a forty-one-year relationship with Bergan Mercy Hospital. While there, many co-workers became life-long friends. She mostly worked on swing shift, which allowed time during the day for lots of gardening, coffee with friends, being in an investment club, and volunteering at her church. She went on travel adventures with her sisters, movie outings, and especially enjoyed attending plays at the Omaha Community Playhouse (in particular, “A Christmas Carol”).

Though Elsie loved all holidays, Christmas was her favorite. She loved to decorate and make her home as festive as possible. For Elsie, when all her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren, were at home for Christmas, those were the best ones of all. She would frequently tell her kids, “I’m sorry, there won’t be much to give out this year,” and then shower them and their families with hospitality, food, and presents. She loved to give. For her whole life. Elsie gave her time, her attention, her energy, her wisdom, her hugs, her tenderness, her caring… her love. She gave herself to all she knew, her friends, her neighbors, and most of all her dear family.

Elsie will be missed so much, but through our faith in Jesus Christ, we take comfort knowing that we will see her again, and share in the love and joy she is experiencing in Him.

Elsie was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and various relatives and friends. She is survived by her children: Dallas (Cyndi), Brad (Stacy), Randy (Sherri), Leslie (Jim), and Jeffrey (Carol); as well as fifteen grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild on the way.

VISITATION: Thursday, May 30th, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed by FUNERAL SERVICE at 10:30 a.m., at West Center Chapel.

Interment, Evergreen Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Open Door Mission or Omaha Community Playhouse.