Hazel Schlichenmayer -- 2002

Hazel Nettie Schlichenmayer, age 83 was born June 20, 1918, at Ruleton, Kan., to James Bluford and Addie Belle (Ingram) Light. She died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002, at the Grace Manor Care Center, Burlington. Hazel grew up on a farm north of Ruleton. She was the youngest of 14 children – 6 brothers and 8 sisters. She had a great pioneering spirit and worked hard at every task. At the age of 21, she married Otto Otteman, and stepped into a ready-made family of four girls. She was undaunted by the task of raising them and keeping the family together. There are not many women who would take on such a formidable task. With her husband Otto, she had two children – Leona Faye and Larry Otto. The family home burned to the ground taking with it the lives of Leona (3) and Jeannie (5).

After this traumatic experience, Hazel again showed her strength and perseverance by tending to the remaining family and resuming the farm chores of milking, feeding bucket calves, chickens, pigs, etc. She even drove the tractor to till the fields.

On Dec. 19, 1947, Hazel gave birth to Larry, the pride and joy of her life. Larry was only 4 when Otto took his own life. After the death of Otto, Hazel moved into Burlington and worked at the creamery. She met and married Harold Park, a jeweler.

That marriage ended in divorce. On Sept. 16, 1965, Hazel married “Shorty” Schlichenmayer, a carpenter. They built a nice home on the southeast outskirts of Burlington and lived there until Shorty’s death in 1989. Hazel’s health began to fail in 1992 when she developed a blood clot and later had open heart surgery. About two years later she was diagnosed with cancer and underwent two episodes battling it. Her last two years were spent in Grace Manor being cared for people who she had earlier worked alongside. In spite of all the adversity, Hazel loved life. She had wonderful friends and family. She loved those huge family reunions and gatherings. Other interests were country music, bowling, fishing, gardening, and baking. Hazel knew country music like the back of her hand. She recognized artists by their pictures, songs, and even their families. You could name a song and she could tell you who made it a hit and their entire history. Her love of music was so evident that she played the piano by ear and even played at some old country barn dances. A big favorite tune was the “Beer Barrel Polka”- she could make that piano talk. Hazel was a wonderful bowler and good person to have on the team. Her average was around 200. She entered many tournaments and won several trophies.

Hazel loved to fish. Her idea of relaxation was to take her fishing pole out to Bonny Dam and fish off the bank. She caught many big ones too! Hazel was a fantastic cook – not only at home but also professionally. She opened her own café in Burlington and served 10 cent hamburgers. People flocked in!

Later she cooked at the Burlington Livestock Sale and Grace Manor, always making food so tasty people came back for more. When she cleaned at the post office she would bring in huge pans of cinnamon rolls for those who worked there. Many times people would request her to bake cinnamon rolls for them.

Hazel loved to garden. Often she planted enough to feed the whole neighborhood. It was not unusual for her to send out a basket full of cucumbers, squash, or tomatoes tot hose around. Each year she would say she wasn’t going to plant so much, but each new year found her tilling the two lots and filling them with seed.

Preceeding [sic] Hazel in death were her parents; two children, Leona and Jeannie; and her brothers and sisters. Survivors include her son, Larry Otteman of Boulder, Wyo.; step-daughters Bethal Schlichenmayer of Wheatland, Wyo.; Fern Jones of Parsons, Kan.; and Ellen Mauritz of Cheyenne, Wyo.; 21 grand-children; many nieces and nephews and friends.

Hazel will be fondly remembered by numerous people whose lives she touched. Services were held Monday, Jan. 7, 2002, at 10 a.m. at Love Funeral Home in Burlington with Pastor Wesley Dunbar officiating. Soloist Greg Hallagin, accompanied by Virginia Flatt, sang “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art.” Casket bearers were Jon Reeverts, Red King, Ron Meyers, Bill Carter, Jim Dvorak and Dennis Ridder. Interment was at Fairview Cemetery in Burlington. Arrangements by Love Funeral Home.