Vella Mae Jane (Schroeder) Strecker, 98, died Friday, October 22, 2021, at Cedar Village Long Term Care in Ness City where she had been residing since 2014. She was born on July 20, 1923, at her parent’s farm near Yorktown, Texas, the daughter of Hertha (Audilet) and Otto G. Schroeder.
She married Waldimore “Dick” Strecker April 18, 1947, in Cuero, Texas, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. During their marriage they lived in Bazine, Kansas. He preceded her in death on February 8, 2004. Also preceding her in death were her parents and five sisters, Marguerite Schmidt, Annie Bell Clark, Bernice Schendel, Elaine Luddeke, and Venecia Spellman.
Vella is survived by a son, Stanley Strecker and Carol Dowell of Dodge City and daughter, Barbara Rupp and husband Perry of Ness City, five grandchildren, Tammy Mattison of Topeka, Kansas, Tracy Strecker of Overland Park, Kansas, Thais Schmitz of Charlotte, North Carolina, Jeremy Rupp of Wichita, Kansas, Spencer Rupp and his wife Jen of Topeka; seven great grandchildren, Kort and Jett Mattison, Kylianne and Julianne Rupp, Eva and Lola Schmitz, and Beckett Rupp; and many relatives and friends.
Vella was a homemaker and a member of the United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women of Bazine. She graduated from Yorktown High School and Brown Mackie Business School. Vella worked various jobs during her life, a mechanics helper at Kelly Field, Texas, typist, bookkeeper, receptionist, teacher’s aide and Sunday School teacher for many years. She loved working in her flower garden and yard. Later in life she took art lessons and painted over 100 paintings ...l andscape, still life and portraits. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and always looked forward to spending time with family and friends.
Services will be announced and held at a later date. Cremation has taken place, there will be no public viewing.
The family suggests memorials to the Ness City Library or the United Methodist Church of Bazine both in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.