Thelma A. Schmelzle, 85, of Seneca, Kansas, died on Friday, December 13, 2013, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

She was born January 16, 1928, on a farm southeast of Seneca, the daughter of Frank J. and Suzie C. Wichman Meyer. She attended St. Bede’s School in Kelly. In 1940 the family moved to a farm south of Seneca where Thelma graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul Grade School and from Sts. Peter & Paul High School. After working for Hallmark in Topeka, she returned to Seneca and worked at Strathman’s Department Store.

On April 10, 1950, she married Leonard J. Schmelzle at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. They lived on the Schmelzle home place southeast of Seneca where they farmed, had livestock and a small dairy. In June of 1984, they moved to Seneca. Thelma worked at Country View Estates Care Home in the laundry department. The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in April of 2000. Leonard died on October 18, 2008.

She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and St. Ann’s Altar Society. She and her husband were instrumental in the organization of the Nemaha County Training Center. She was a volunteer helper for meals on wheels, bingo at Crestview Manor, the mission center and many other community activities. She enjoyed taking care of her family, gardening, and flowers.

Survivors are three daughters, Rebecca “Becky” and Jane Schmelzle of Seneca and Diane (Robert) Bach of Minneapolis, Minnesota; two sons, Dennis (Linda) Schmelzle and Keith (Mary Jane) Schmelzle both of Seneca; three sisters, Irene Heinen of Axtell, Mary Engelken of Prairie Village, and Loyola Engelken of Seneca; a brother, Lester “Les” Meyer of Basehor; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband and a brother, Frank H. Meyer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10AM Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM on Monday, December 16th at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for Nemaha County Training Center and Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery.