Viola Rose "Vi" Jenik passed away on March 11, 2015 at the age of 89 in Visalia, California. She was born on January 28, 1926, at home in Monument, Kansas to Fredrick John "Fred" and Eva Elizabeth (Busch) Wassemiller. She had two brothers: Levi and Ruben "Jack" Wassemiller, and three sisters: Goldie Kammerer, Freda Pingetzer, and Sylvanna Avila; who have all preceded her in death, along with three brothers-in-law, Sam Kammerer, Irl Pingetzer, and Lupe Avila, and one sister-in-law, MaryAnn Wassemiller.

She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Ben Jenik, and their five children; Juanita, Patty, Barbara and her husband JR McNair, Les and his wife Donna, and Laurie. She also leaves seven grandchildren; Jopha, Cindy, Joshua, Kleet, Coltan, Benjamin and Brandon. One grandson Rowdy, preceded her in death in 1988. She leaves six great grandchildren; Riley, Cole, Jourdan, Adriana, Gregory, and Rebecca. She also leaves behind numerous extended family, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Many of Vi's family and friends will remember her for her beautiful, self-taught, piano playing. She was also a great cook and made the most delicious donuts, pies, and cinnamon rolls. She loved scrap booking and keeping track of her family's history, and was still doing that at the time of her passing.

Prior to her marriage, she taught school at the Brownville School in Kansas. She got polio and left teaching in January 1947. She married Ben Jenik on August 8, 1947 in Monument, Kansas. They lived in Oakley, Kansas and later in McDonald, Kansas. In 1958 they moved to Thornton, Colorado and in 1959 to Visalia, California. While raising her family she went back to school at COS in Visalia. She was a substitute teacher for a short time in Visalia. She also worked at Lamp Liter Inn and Josten's Yearbook. Then she went to work for Tulare County. She was the first secretary to learn how to operate the very first (room-sized) computer in the basement of the Tulare County Courthouse. Still working for Tulare County, she moved to a secretary position for the University of California Cooperative Extension, where she retired from in 1991.

A memorial service will be held at Salser and Dillard Funeral Chapel in Visalia, California at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 20th, 2015. Graveside services and burial will be held at Monument Township Cemetery in Monument, Kansas on Wednesday, April 8th, 2015 at 11:00 a.m., with arrangements by Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home in Oakley, Kansas. www.kennedykosterfh.com