Elsie Kelm

Elsie Schroeder Kelm, 93, a native of Washington County, Texas, died on October 31, 2003 in the Spring Shadow Pines Nursing Facility in Houston, Texas. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 4 at 2:00 p.m. in St. Peter s Lutheran Church of Gay Hill with Pastor Virgil Pecht officiating. Interment will be in St. Peter s Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Memorial Oaks Chapel. Elsie Schroeder was born on June 20, 1910 in the Live Oak Hill Community in Washington County, Texas, the daughter of Fritz O. Schroeder and Sophia Schumacher Schroeder. She was baptized on August 7, 1910 by the Reverend F. Apfelbach and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on April 5, 1925 at St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill by the Reverend Paul Goglin. She attended the Live Oak Hill School in Washington County. On January 9, 1934, she was married to Albert Kelm in St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill by the Reverend Paul Goglin. They were members at St. John s for approximately ten years before moving their membership to St. Peter s Lutheran Church of Gay Hill, where they remained faithful members until their death. Elsie Kelm taught in Sunday School at this church as well as being active in Women of the ELCA and the Alter Guild. Elsie Kelm was engaged in farming with her husband Albert in the Prairie Hill and Gay Hill Communities until 1953 when they moved to Brenham. Elsie Kelm was employed by Brenham Produce Company for a period of twenty five years until her retirement in 1978. A short time after the death of her husband in 1994, Mrs. Kelm made her home in Houston with Shara Lynn and Gilbert Ahlhardt for about six years. Due to failing health, she spent the final three years of her life in the Spring Shadow Pines Nursing Facility. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Shara Lynn and Gilbert Ahlhardt of Houston; grandchildren, Brenda Lynn Haines and her husband Marty of Houston, Clifford Wayne Ahlhardt and his wife Sheri of Houston; great-grandchildren, Brian Andrew Haines and Faith Brittany Ahlhardt. Survivors also include a sister-in-law, nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers and a sister. Memorials may be given to the cemetery fund of St. Peter s Lutheran Church, Gay Hill. Pallbearers will be Elwood Kelm, Roy Kelm, Travis Fisher, Earl Wiesepape, Elwood Ahlhardt and Edward Sehlke. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 West Main Street, in Brenham.