Kiemsteadt
Lucile Meier Kiemsteadt, of Kenney, Texas, passed away to be with her Lord on July 18, 2008 at St. Joseph Hospital in Bryan, Texas.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 2 p.m. from St. Paul Lutheran Church of Phillipsburg, with the Rev. Robert L. Sorensen, officiating.
Interment was in Phillipsburg Lutheran Cemetery. Pallbearers were Lucile’s grandchildren and their spouses.
Lucile was born on September 29, 1926 in Kenney, Texas to Otto and Caroline Meier. She remained a life-long resident of Kenney, attending elementary school there and graduating from Bellville High School. She began her Christian journey with her baptism and confirmation at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Phillipsburg. It was in her beloved St. Paul church that she married the love of her life, Melvin Kiemsteadt, on Feb. 9, 1947.
The young couple continued to make their life together on their small farm in Kenney. Lucile was employed by Bellville Abstract and First National Bank of Bellville during the first years of the marriage. In late1951 Lucile and Melvin were blessed with the news of a new arrival soon to come. It was at this time that Lucile also learned that she had contracted polio. In the months to come, Lucile and Melvin spent much time at Jefferson Davis Hospital in Houston, where she joined other polio victims seeking treatment. Over the course of her illness, Lucile suffered partial paralysis. After several months, she came home, still pregnant with her first son, and with Melvin as her coach, began a rigorous physical therapy to restore the use of her legs and arms. In March of 1952, their son David was born, although Lucile was still unable to completely care for her son on her own. Gradually, Lucile regained the use of her limbs, defying all doctors who said she
 would never walk again.
Lucile continued in her recovery, and in 1956, their second son Jerry was born. She stayed at home with both her sons, imparting to them both lessons of deep faith and love for family. With a firm hand and a warm sense of humor, she molded her little boys into loving and responsible adults. Lucile was committed to the dreams and goals of her sons, even donning a catcher’s mask and mitt to catch for her boys as they learned to pitch. This would continue even as her grandchildren grew up and occasionally needed a practice partner. She remained heavily involved in her church as well, volunteering her time as a Sunday school teacher, serving on church council, and in whatever capacity she was needed.
A career change began in the late sixties, when Lucile added the role of Assistant Administrator of the Sweetbriar Nursing Home in Bellville. She would serve as a nursing home administrator until early 2007, when she finally retired after a life time of loving service to the elderly of her community. Throughout these years, Lucile would continue her devotion to her family, and she and Melvin followed the academic and athletic careers of their sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They took great delight in attending activities and events in which family members were involved.
Lucile was preceded in death by her parents, her mother and father-in-law, Fred and Laura Kiemsteadt, her brother-in-law Fred, her brother Leslie and his wife Ernestine, her sister Esther and her husband Henry Haar, and her grand-nephew Michael Meier. In May of 2008, Lucile faced the heartbreaking loss of her son, Jerry, who had bravely battled cancer for over three years.
She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Melvin, and their son David. Also grieving her loss are David’s wife, Linda and Jerry’s wife, Cindy. Grandchildren surviving are Jason and Jennifer Kiemsteadt, Bethany and Rob Sherrard, Amy and Zach Hale, and Clint and Amy Kiemsteadt. Lucile took great delight in her great-grandchildren, who knew her as “Granny K.” They are Laura and Jay Jay Kiemsteadt, Lukas and Ellie Sherrard, Owen Hale, Kennedy, Graham and Luke Kiemsteadt.
Lucile is also survived by her brother, Leeroy Meier and his wife, Nora; her sister- in-law, Mary Jo and her husband, John Kessler and many beloved nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: MD Anderson, P.O. Box 301439 Houston, TX 77230-1439 and St Paul Lutheran Church of Phillipsburg, Rt. 1 Box 225, Brenham, TX 77833.
Funeral arrangements under the direction of Knesek Bros. Funeral Chapel in Bellville.