Blanche T. Kohlfeld

The Kohlfeld Family has long had an affinity for Southeast Missouri State University. The family of Leo Kohlfeld who pioneered the Kohlfeld distributorship, and his sons, Mike, president of Kohlfeld Distributing, and Mark, vice president of sales for the company, are members of the President’s Council, the Redhawks Club and have sponsored many athletic fundraisers throughout the years.

Mike graduated from Southeast in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a Marketing major. His wife, Dr. Barbara Kohlfeld, graduated in 1975 with a Master of Arts degree in Education. She is principal at Blanchard Elementary in Cape Girardeau and they have three children.

Gail Kohlfeld Jones graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and Associate of Arts degree in Child Care and Guidance. She began her teaching career at Kelso C7 Public School District. Since 1982, Jones has worked as an early childhood educator at Christian School for the Young Years in Cape Girardeau. Gail has taught English as a second language in Africa and served as a presenter at early childhood conferences in Europe and the United States. Frank Jones is President and co-founder of CPU, Inc., a local information technology and payroll services company. CPU has served the local community since 1977 and was awarded Small Business of the Year by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. He has led the company with emerging technology services that help businesses stay competitive and efficient. Their payroll services division covers 20 states. He is a 1973 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. Gail and Frank have four children and seven grandchildren.

Jan Kohlfeld Velander is a 1978 graduate of Southeast with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She received her Masters’ in Education from Southwest Baptist University. She is currently teaching in the Blue Springs, R-IV School District.

The Kohlfeld Family was named Friend of the University in 2006, the highest honor bestowed by the Foundation in recognition of their generous support of students, academic programs and athletics.