Jody Lynn DeHart

Jody Lynn DeHart was born to Howard Edward and Helen Marie (Johnson) Kosse on November 27, 1968 in Norton, Kansas. Jody spent just a few years in Norton until the family moved to Goodland, Kansas where she attended schools and graduated from Goodland High School in 1987.

Jody met and married Mac DeHart and the couple settled in the Benkelman area where she began work as a school cook in Benkelman. Jody found her passion as she started her own in-home daycare in Benkelman. With their son, Nathan, the family later moved to Imperial. She operated her daycare in Imperial as well. The couple later divorced and Jody also later worked at the Imperial Senior Center as a cook.

While living in Imperial, she found true love and friendship with Arlo Tropf and eventually moved to Champion and created a wonderful home with Arlo. Though the couple never technically married, no one would have known the difference. Jody and Arlo created a home that was filled with love and was welcoming to all.

Jody will be remembered for her love of jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, Chinese checkers and Yahtzee. In the summertime she was found tending to her garden and she loved to mow the yard. Her family will miss her wonderful cooking and baked goods, of which she always made enough to feed a small army. Jody never cooked small meals.

Over the last few years, Jody went rounds with various types of cancer. She put up a long hard fight and faced each circumstance with such positivity. She was an inspiration for her strength. The Lord called her and she is at peace with no more pain or suffering. Jody was the definition of sweet and kind. She was just truly nice to everyone she met and had such a loving heart. She cared for others naturally and loved her family dearly.

Jody leaves behind her loving companion, Arlo Tropf; her son, Nathan (Emily); stepchildren, Holly Beckman, Alexis Tropf, Brett Tropf, Derrick Tropf and Levi Tropf; her brothers, Dale, Roger, Phillip and Allen Skrdlant; sisters, Pat Krien and Paula Kear; two grandchildren, Lewis and Dawson DeHart; step grandchildren Keagan Weiss, Brody Beckman, Sawyer Beckman, Sadie Tropf, Bryce Tropf, Logan Tropf and Tamera Tropf.

Jody was preceded in death by her parents; her step father, Walt Rohr; and her sister, Linda Foster.

A Celebration of Jody’s life will be held 2:00 P.M. (MT) Friday, February 16 at the Champion Community Center Building in Champion, NE. with Rev. Brian Loy officiating.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Champion Community Center and the Champion Women’s Club in memory of Jody.