Selma Magdalena Kohls 1903-2001

BAUMGARTNER, BAECHLER, SCHNEIDER, KOHLS, WHITFORD, MUEHLETHALER, JENNINGS

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 12/19/2009 at 18:57:26

Selma Magdalena Kohls, 98, of Elgin, daughter of Ernest and Rose (Baumgartner) Baechler, was born near Elgin on June 20, 1903. She was raised and educated in rural Pleasant Valley Township schools.

She was united in marriage to John Schneider on March 24, 1926 on the Baechler farm. To this union one son, Gerald Alton, was born. Selma and her husband farmed their married life in the Elgin area until his sudden death on Dec 26, 1945. On Dec. 20, 1953, Selma married Herman Kohls at Waterloo, IA, where they lived until his death on Oct. 8, 1957. While in Waterloo she worked for Davidson's Drapery department.

After Herman's death Selma returned to Elgin where she was a clerk at Halverson's Store for 25 years until retiring. Her life centered around her family and their needs. Her home was a source of enjoyment and a creation of love. She enjoyed working outside with her flowers and vegetable garden,. She was a seamstress, enjoyed making quilts, crocheting and reading.

Survivors include her son Gerald (Arlette) Schneider, Postville; seven grandchildren, David (Joanne) Schneider, Postville, Edward Schneider, Postville, Karen (David) Roberts, Cedar Rapids, LuAnn (Jeff) Alber, West Union, Gary ( Lisa) Schneider, Elgin, Melinda (Brian) Schroeder, Clermont and Geoffrey (Venessa) Schneider, Clermont, 19 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; two sisters, Clara Whitford, West Union and Helen Muehlethaler, Stewartville, MN; a brother, Melbert (Ruby) Baechler, Elgin; and a sister-in-law Kay Baechler, Seal Beach, CA.

Besides her two husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, John and Alfred Baechler; a sister, Mary Jennings and two great grandchildren, Chad and Dustin Roberts.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2001 at 11 a.m. at Leonard Funeral Home in Elgin with the Rev. Marshall Hahn officiating. Interment was at Apostolic Cemetery, rural Elgin.

Honorary pallbearers were Robert Hanson, Robert Heins, Harvey Paulsen, Jim Frieden, Giles Martin, Harold Halverson, and Dwayne Johnson.

Casketbearers were Raymond Friederich, Galen Jennings, Ronald Loftsgard, Dean Schneider, Bill Pfister, Sr., and Jon Shaffer.

Grandma will always be remembered as the root of our family tree. We are the branches she nourished with her gifts of love, wisdom, determination and thoughtfulness.

Postville Herald-Leader newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.
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