Carleta Sue Imel passed away at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, KS on December 13, 2019, at the age of 74. She was born on August 5, 1945 to Carl and Goldie (Hays) Strutt in Woodston, KS. She grew up in Woodston and graduated from Woodston High School with the Class of 1963. She then attended two years of college at Friends University in Wichita. Carleta married Jack Imel on January 9, 1965 in Hill City, KS. They were blessed with two sons: Douglas and Grady.
In her earlier years, Carleta worked as a telephone operator in Woodston. She then worked at Beech Aircraft in Salina for a couple of years before moving to the Kansas City area where she worked as an administrator at a nursing home. In 2015 Carleta moved back to Woodston. She had a passion for Woodston and was on the City Council up to her passing. She created an organization call WOW (Women of Woodston) to revitalize the town of Woodston. Carleta’s strong faith in God led her to be involved in many organizations which allowed her to share her faith. Carleta enjoyed working in her garden, quilting, and family genealogy.
Carleta is survived by her husband Jack Imel of the home in Woodston; sons Douglas Imel of Alton, KS and Grady Imel and wife Alice of Coarsegold, CA; and one grandson, Matthew Imel, whom she was very proud of and who graduated from K-State University this past Saturday.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Goldie Strutt; brothers, James and Richard Strutt; and sister, Roberta Copley.
Carleta will be greatly missed by the countless lives she touched and by all who knew and loved her, but her life and memory will continue to have an impact for eternity. As a loving, caring mother, her family was second only to God; and although she has now gone home to be with her Lord, her legacy of love and kind caring ways, will live on in our hearts forever.
A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, December 19, 2019 at 11:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Woodson. There will be no visitation. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to WOW (Women of Woodston) and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.