Sister Geraldine Milke

Sister Geraldine Milke died July 16, 2020, at Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia, Kansas. She was 88 years old and a Sister of St. Joseph for 69 years. She was born in Hays, Kan., on July 7, 1932, to Joseph and Caroline Rohleder Milke, the youngest of five children, and was baptized Geraldine Agnes. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph, Concordia, Kan., on February 14, 1951. On August 15, 1951, Geraldine received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph and was given the name Sister Constance, later changing back to her baptismal name. She pronounced first vows on August 15, 1952, and final vows on August 15, 1955.
Sister Geraldine received a diploma in Nursing from Marymount College, Salina, Kan., in 1955. She worked in hospitals staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Belvidere, Ill., Atwood, Concordia, Salina, and Manhattan, Kan., and Grand Island, Neb., retiring to Nazareth Motherhouse in 2006.
Sister Geraldine was preceded in death by her parents and her four siblings. A Bible Vigil Service will be held at 9:30 a.m. on July 20 with Sister Rita Plante as the eulogist. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on July 20 with Father Barry Brinkman presiding. Due to the safety precautions for Covid-19, the bible vigil and funeral mass will be private. However, both will be livestreamed on the Sisters of St. Joseph Facebook page. The interment of cremains will be in the Nazareth Motherhouse Cemetery. Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, 325 W. 6th St., Concordia, Kan., is in charge of arrangements.  Memorials for Sister Geraldine Milke may be given to the Sisters of St. Joseph Health Care/Retirement Fund or the Apostolic Works of the Sisters, P.O Box 279, Concordia, Kansas 66901. For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.