Mildred J. Stuckenschmidt

Mildred Johanne Stuckenschmidt, 90, of Manhattan, Kan., formerly of Pender, died on Friday, Dec. 9, 2008, at St. Joseph Village Care Center in Manhattan, Kansas. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008, at 11:00 A.M. at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Pender, Nebraska with the Rev. Steven Tjarks officiating. A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Munderloh Funeral Home in Pender. The family will be present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Internment will be at the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Cemetery. Mildred was born in rural Pender, Nebraska on January 8, 1918, the eldest of four children born to Henry and Marie (Vosteen) Ahlers. She was baptized on March 24, 1919 and confirmed on March 20, 1932 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Pender. She married Leo Stuckenschmidt on January 25, 1939 and to this marriage, four children were born. They lived with Mildred’s widowed mother on her Thurston County, Nebraska farm for five years and them moved to their own farm, also in Thurston County. In 1950, they moved to a farm in northeastern Cuming County, Nebraska, farming there for 30 years. In 1980 they retired to a home in Pender, Nebraska and in 2004 moved to Manhattan, Kansas. Mildred’s joy came from her children, grandchildren, garden and flowers. She loved the times when her grandchildren would visit on the farm and later, at their home in Pender. Those visits were filled with good food, card games, family history, old photographs and joyous times. She loved to laugh and sing and she taught all those around her the importance of love and happiness. After retirement, she and Leo enjoyed being with their friends and relatives at the Pender Pioneer Center. Throughout her life, Mildred was an active member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Survivors include sons & spouses, Leon and Pam of Fredericksburg, Texas, Dean and Anne of Fresno, California, David and Anita of Manhattan, Kansas; grandchildren Karen Kuzma of Johnson City, Texas, Bonnie Stuckenschmidt of San Leandro, California, Henry and Hannah Stuckenschmidt of Fresno, California, Brian, Daren, Noel and Emily Stuckenschmidt of Manhattan, Kansas; two great grandchildren; a brother Henry Ahlers of Norfolk, Nebraska, and a sister, Norma Thomsen of Pender. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Leo, her daughter, Joann Albright, and a sister, Pauline Morse. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mildred’s name to the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.