Elma Emma Stahlecker -- 2006
The Burlington Record  Thursday, November 23, 2006

Elma Emma (Ziegler) Stahlecker was born on March 4, 1917. She was the 9th child born to John and Christina (Boepple) Ziegler in Bethune. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church and received her early Christian training from her parents and her church family. Elma was confirmed at an early age.
After finishing the 8th grade, she worked for several families in the Bethune and Burlington area doing general housework and caring for newborn babies. She and her twin sister Emma also worked as housekeepers at the Sloan’s Motel for several years.

On April 19, 1940 Elma Ziegler and Ralph Stahlecker were united in marriage at the Lutheran Church in Goodland, KS. Following the ceremony, they were invited to sister Lena and Albert Strobel’s house for chicken noodle soup.

They lived and farmed north of Bethune until retirement, then moved to Burlington.

During their many years of farming and ranching, Elma was always willing to lend a helping hand and was ready to do whatever was needed.

Elma was always one of the first to arrive at the church for cleaning and painting days as well. She and her husband Ralph were custodians of the church for 32 years.

She was an avid gardener and had a love for flowers. You could always find Elma working in the flower booth at the county fair.

Elma loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Even at her busiest, she was always delighted to baby sit or do whatever was needed.

Elma had a very close relationship with her twin sister Emma. They would visit daily on the phone, in German of course. If they were planning on going to the same place, you would usually see them dressed alike. They continued to do this until they needed more special care.

Elma moved to the Sunrise Assisted Living in Colorado Springs in August of 2004 in the special care unit. She resided there until the time of her death on November 15, 2006.

Elma is survived by her daughters; Beulah and her husband Loren Lambert of Burlington and Annette Geist of Colorado Springs. She is also survived by her grandson Kyle Lambert and his wife Tracy of Burlington, granddaughter Toni Balestra of Colorado Springs, great grandchildren Zachary Lambert and Brittney Balestra/Villani. Other survivors include sister-in-laws Frieda Schlichenmayer of Burlington and Lillian Stahlecker of Buhl, Idaho.

Preceding her in death was her husband Ralph of 64 years, her mother and father, brothers; Richard, Bill, Otto and Fred Ziegler and sisters Clara Ziegler, Lena Strobel, Anna Strobel, Esther Arends and Emma Dobler.

Funeral services for Mrs. Stahlecker were held on Monday, November 20, 2006 at 2:00 PM at the Hope Congregational Church north of Bethune with Pastor Carl Rogers officiating. Burial followed in the Fairview Cemetery in Burlington. Visitation was held on Sunday, November 19, 2006 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Love Funeral Home in Burlington.

Memorials may be made in Elma’s name to the Hope Congregational Church or to the Alzheimer’s Foundation and may be left at the First National Bank in Burlington.