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Cleta M. Hammes Haverkamp

Seneca, Kansas

04/12/1933 - 12/08/2020

Cleta Mae Haverkamp passed away on December 8, 2020.

Cleta Mae was born April 12, 1933 to Lawrence & Cora Hammes. She grew up on a farm outside of Baileyville, KS the oldest daughter of 11 brothers & sisters. She was the first member of her family to graduate from high school and was only allowed by her parents to continue her education beyond 8th grade by promising to do all of the family’s laundry early in the morning before she left for school. Cleta Mae was captain of the basketball team at Baileyville High School playing point guard even though her height was only 5 foot 2 inches tall and was her class valedictorian.

After her high school graduation in 1951, Cleta Mae moved to Topeka, KS and initially worked for Hallmark Cards and eventually worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield.

On July 22, 1953, Cleta Mae married the love of her life, Remi Haverkamp, at St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, KS. Cleta & Remi had started dating her senior year of high school after meeting at a dance in Marysville, KS. After their wedding, Cleta & Remi moved to a farm outside of Centralia, KS and started their life together. Remi was soon drafted into the Korean War and left for basic training with the army in April 1954 just one month before their first child was born. Remi was eventually stationed at Fort Gordon in Georgia where he worked as a clerk in the headquarters of the Military Police Training Center and Cleta Mae joined him with their baby daughter, Brenda. They lived in Augusta, Georgia for the next two years while Remi finished his military duties. Then in 1956, they returned to their farm in Centralia, KS where they lived most of their lives and went on to have 5 more children. Cleta loved to bake and in her early years made beautiful wedding cakes for many weddings in the community. She was also a gifted seamstress and was the sewing leader for the local 4-H club for many years. Always resourceful, during some tough financial years, Cleta, with the help of some of her children, became a successful AKC Lhasa Apso dog breeder, from 1966 through the mid 1980’s. In July 1973, Cleta & Remi bought the grocery store in Centralia, KS which they ran for many years until selling the store to their son, Steve, in 2002. Cleta had a natural penchant for numbers and did all of the bookkeeping for the farm, the dog breeding business and the grocery store, often aided by one or two of her children.

Cleta Mae & Remi were life-long members of St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, KS and Cleta was a member of the Altar Society as well as the VFW Auxiliary. In their later years, Cleta & Remi enjoyed traveling to Yuma, AZ as snowbirds in the winter months. In 2014, they moved to Seneca, KS where they bought a house on the golf course.

Cleta truly had a love for family and was very devoted to not only her children but also her brothers & sisters, aunts & uncles as well as their families throughout her life. When her mother became ill later in life, Cleta Mae assumed many of the motherly roles of raising her younger brothers & sisters. This motherly role was repeated throughout Cleta’s life with many examples ranging from taking in her young niece to live with her family for a year, to providing her elderly aunts with regular haircuts and permanents. Cleta was always loving, caring and kind to everyone.

Cleta is survived by her husband, Remi and her children: Brenda Haverkamp of Topeka, KS, Randy Haverkamp (Cyrilla) of Loveland, CO, Steve Haverkamp (Deb) of Seneca, KS, Joyce Haverkamp of Brooklyn, NY, Janel Chilson (Mark) of Overland Park, KS and Stacy Lehmen (Jim) of Atoka, TN; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Cleta is also survived by six brothers, Alvin, Gerald, Galen, Leo and Kenneth, all of Seneca, KS and Larry of Topeka, KS; and three sisters, Bernice Heiman of Baileyville, KS, Mary Rose Feuerborn of Richmond, KS and Jeanette Becker of Seneca. Cleta was preceded in death by her father Lawrence on November 30, 1993, her mother Cora on July 15, 1975; her brother, Donald Hammes on November 21, 1967, and her sister, Dorothy Bergman Schraad on January 19, 2017.

Cleta will lie in state at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca on Thursday, December 10, 2020. The family will not be present and masks will be required.

 

 

Cleta will lie in state at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca on Thursday, December 10, 2020. The family will not be present and masks will be required.

 

A rosary will be prayed at 10:30 AM on Friday, December 11, 2020, prior to the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at St Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, KS.

Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and sent in care of Lauer Funeral Home, Seneca, KS.

A rosary will be prayed at 10:30 AM on Friday, December 11, 2020, prior to the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at St Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, KS.

Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and sent in care of Lauer Funeral Home, Seneca, KS.

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14 Comments

  1. Linda & Corwyn Wenke on December 8, 2020 at 6:44 pm

    Steve and family, we are saddened to learn of the passing of your Mother. May God bless and comfort you and your family during this difficult time. Cherish the great memories you have. Hugs 🤗

  2. Deb Hanes-Nelson on December 8, 2020 at 7:46 pm

    Remi, Steve, and family, God bless and strengthen you all in your time of grief. Cleta was such a lovely lady and I held her in high esteem. She was so kind and helpful at the store. I always looked forward to seeing her and pray that we will all see her again one day! With grace and peace for you all, Deb Hanes-Nelson and Doug Nelson

  3. Betty Wenzl on December 8, 2020 at 8:42 pm

    Remi and family, So sorry for your loss. Cleta was such a wonderful person. Many memories, they will be a comfort to you. Love and Prayers, Betty Wenzl

  4. Judy Meade on December 9, 2020 at 11:31 am

    So sorry for your loss. Your mother was someone that so many looked up to, she was definitely a pillar of the Centralia community. I learned so much about her in reading the obituary, what a wonderful tribute to Cleta. God bless the whole family. Alva and Judy Meade

  5. Cheryl Broxterman on December 9, 2020 at 6:00 pm

    Remi, Janel and family,
    My thoughts and prayers are with you all, she was a wonderful caring lady that will be missed by many.

  6. Barbara Deters on December 9, 2020 at 8:02 pm

    Remi and family, I want to Express my deepest sympathy. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers. Cleta was such giving person, she will be missed but we know she is free of her wheelchair.

  7. Brenda (Deters) Stephenson and family on December 9, 2020 at 8:09 pm

    My deepest condolences to all of you. You will be in my thought and prayers.

  8. Barb Kohake Montgomery on December 10, 2020 at 10:43 am

    Randy, Cyrilla and Family,

    I so sorry to hear Cleta had passed away. Such a nice lady. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

  9. Kay Swanson Bitterman on December 10, 2020 at 12:37 pm

    So sorry for your loss. Cleta and Remi were always so nice to me whenever I would go into the store. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

  10. Connie J. Holthaus on December 10, 2020 at 3:48 pm

    Randy, Cyrilla, Tig and Deb,

    You have our sympathy in the loss of your mom. She was always so friendly to us whenever we would see her and your dad in Seneca at the Legion chicken and fish frys. We hope the special memories you have of her will keep her close in your heart.

    Connie and Jim

  11. Joan Nolte Hornbeak on December 11, 2020 at 6:59 am

    To the Haverkamp and Hammes family.
    We send our thoughts and prayers at this sad time. From the Nolte cousins, Joan, Cleta, Alice, Joyce and Bob.

  12. Karen & David Brown on December 11, 2020 at 8:48 am

    Randy, Cyrilla & the Haverkamp families you have our sympathies, thoughts & prayers.

  13. Larry & Donna Kohlmeier on December 11, 2020 at 5:53 pm

    Remi & Family My sympathy to all of you on the passing of Cleta. I have not seen any of your family for many years but remember both of you when I worked for Fleming and called on your grocery store. It always was a wonderfull experience calling on you because you were a great couple. I also remember the little puppy you gave us because of a birth defect at no charge. Cleta was a wonderfull lady and I know she will stay busy in heaven.

  14. Jody Holsinger on December 13, 2020 at 3:25 pm

    Remi and family. Condolences to all of your family. I know Cleta will be missed terribly. You have a beautiful family and her legacy will carried on. Praying for your peace during this difficult time.

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