The Burlington Record, Burlington, Colorado
Thursday, December 30, 1999

Pauline M. Knodel-1999

     Pauline Marie Stahlecker Knodel was born to Isaiah and Marie Stahlecker on Sept. 8, 1912, in the German Settlement north of Bethune.
     The fourth of eight children, Pauline was preceded in death by sister Martha and brothers Julius, Edward and Albert who died in infancy.
     She is survived by brothers Jake and wife Lillian of Castleford, Idaho, Ralph and wife Elma of Burlington, and sister Frieda Schlichenmayer of Burlington.
     Pauline was schooled at Prairie View country school and was baptized and confirmed in Hope Congregational Church. She was also active in the church's Ladies Aid Society.
     Music was an important part of Pauline's life. She sang in the mixed choir and duets with her sister. She became the church pianist as a teen and through her music she met Emil Knodel who became her husband in 1935. Emil played the guitar and Pauline joined him on the piano, organ or accordion. To this union was born a son Lloyd in 1936.
     The young couple and their son spent nearly 11 years on their farm in the settlement before moving into the town of Bethune. In 1954 Emil and Pauline moved to Denver.
Two grandsons, David and Steven, were born in Colorado.
     Pauline was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to Brian's daughter, Nicolette, who lives in California. David and his wife Salli, who live in Perth, Australia, are expecting Pauline's second great-grandchild in the spring of 2000. The youngest grandson, Steve, resides in Denver.
     After Emil's death in 1985, and after suffering a stroke in 1986, Pauline returned to Burlington to live near her family and to renew friendships from years past.
     Pauline battled heart problems for many years, but with the aid of a pacemaker, she never slowed down. She was hospitalized on Nov. 30, 1999, and succumbed to congestive heart disease on the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 15, 1999, in Kit Carson Hospital. The Caring Hands Hospice was also involved in caring for her in the final days.
     Pauline will be fondly remembered by her brothers, sister, nieces, nephews and many friends; Lloyd and wife Margie, Brian, Dave and Steve, as well as extended family David's wife Sallie and son Jai, Marcie and son Ron, and Kieran and wife Leigh and their son Liam will dearly miss her.
     Services were held Saturday, Dec. 18, 1999, 10 a.m., at Hope Congregational Church north of Bethune, with Reverend Bob Strauch officiating.
Musical selections included the congregational hymn "When We All Get to Heaven" and solo selections of "My God and I" and "One Day At A Time." Vocalists were Denis Stahlecker and Loren Lambert, accompanied by Beulah Lambert on the organ and Velda Adolf on the piano.
     Casket bearers were Lloyd Knodel, Steven Knodel, Denis Stahlecker, Loren Lambert, Arnold Warren, and Ernie Bates.
     Honorary escorts were Jake Stahlecker, Ralph Stahlecker, Brian Knodel and David Knodel.
     Burial was at Fairview Cemetery in Burlington with Hendricks-Love Mortuary in charge of arrangements.
     Memorial gifts may be made to Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital or Caring Hands Hospice in care of Hendricks-Love Mortuary, Box 595, Burlington, CO 80807.