Viola Laverne Schlegel

In Memory OfViola L. Schlegel Viola Laverne Schlegel , of Milford, died Saturday, February 18, 2006, at Memorial Hospital in Seward at the age of 90 years 8 months and 15 days. She was born on June 3, 1915 at Shickley, Nebraska to William and Jemima (Stutzman) Burkey, the oldest of eight children. As a young girl she attended a country school near Milford. She accepted Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized at West Fairview Mennonite Church where she became a member. "Vi" as she was affectionately known to her family, was united in marriage to Glen Stutzman on June 10, 1934 and to this union six children, Merna, Gail, Glenda, Robert L., Cheryl and Carol were born. After Glen's death, she was blessed with a second marriage to Willard Schlegel on August 30, 1959 and a son, Fred was added to her family. With her marriage to Willard, Vi became a member of Bellwood Mennonite Church where she has remained an active and faithful member. Viola spent many years enjoying working side by side with her husband Willard at Schlegel's Grocery in Milford. Viola's family was important to her and she especially enjoyed large family gatherings and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a very loving, forgiving, faithful, soft-hearted, giving mother, grandmother and friend and it was important to her to always pray for all of her grandchildren. Her family enjoyed her potato salad, steak and gravy, sweet iced tea, and raisin oatmeal cookies for the grandchildren. She made pieced quilts for all her grandchildren and enjoyed working the crossword puzzles out of the newspapers. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Robert L. and Lisa Stutzman and Fred W. and Cathy Schlegel, all of Milford, daughters and sons-in-law, Merna Schweitzer, Gail Schweitzer, Glenda and Bill Veal, and Carol and Kelly Newton, all of Milford, Cheryl and Jim Pelley, Springfield, MO, grandchildren and spouses, Lyn and Harold McCullough, Andy and Sally Schweitzer, Jim and Kelly Troyer, Chris and Melissa Newton, all of Milford, Jan and Dhiren Chatterji, Nashville, TN, Jody Schweitzer, Bennett, Tim and Kim Veal, Colorado Springs, CO, Mark and Anna Veal, Tampa, FL, Cari and Brian Hancock, Troy and Chelsey Kirk, Jenny Fosler, Terry Stutzman and Michelle Miklos, and Natasha Stutzman, all of Lincoln, Zachary Schlegel and his fiance, Katie Heyd, both of Chicago, IL, Sam Pelley, Virginia Beach, VA, and Niki Reeves, North Platte, 19 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren, brothers and sister-in-law, Wayne Burkey, Milton and Helen Burkey, all of Lincoln, sisters and brothers-in-law, Berneice and Harlan Hershberger, Milford, Joyce and Lyle Gamble, Seward, sister-in-law, Imagene Burkey, Milford, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Cal and Raye Stutzman, Hastings, Ervin and Nina Stutzman, Sun City, AZ, Dorothy Stutzman, Milford, Julia Rodarte, Peoria, AZ, and Ruth Rediger, Ashland, NE, nieces, nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, Glen Stutzman in 1954 and Willard Schlegel in 1977, grandson, Rodney Schweitzer, an infant brother, Robert Burkey, brother Darold Burkey, sister, Florence Hershberger, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Sterling Hersberger, Chet Stutzman, Joe Yeackley, Merton Stutzman, Virgil Stutzman, Floyd Stutzman, June Burkey, Verda and George Yeackley, Leland Rediger, and sons-in-law, Wilber Schweitzer and Joe Schweitzer, A Funeral Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2006, at Bellwood Mennonite Church with Rev. Orlan Koehn officiating. Interment prior to services at Blue Mound Cemetery, Milford. Visitation is from 9-5 Monday at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Milford. Family will receive friends 6-8 pm Monday at Bellwood Mennonite Church. No viewing before service on Tuesday at church. Memorials have been established to the church. Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Milford, has been entrusted with the care and arrangements.