Obituary: Esther Hoelscher

Esther Marie Hoelscher, 84, passed away the morning of Saturday, May 5, 2018, at her home in Walton surrounded by her adoring family. Esther was born Nov. 14, 1933, the youngest of four children to Philomena (Minnie) and Henry Lutz, near Fowler, Kan. The family lived on a farm near Garfield, Kan., for several years before moving to Wichita after Esther completed the seventh grade.

Upon moving to Wichita, Esther attended St. Anthony Catholic School for the eighth grade before graduating from St. Mary Inter-Parochial High School in 1952. Following graduation, Esther worked as a legal assistant and often attended social events at the local Padilla Club for Catholic young people. It is at a Padilla Club dance that she met her love, Charles (Chuck) Hoelscher, and the two were married on Nov. 25, 1954, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Wichita.

The couple lived in Wichita for a short time before moving to Newton, where Chuck took a job in the mobile home industry. The couple lived on Harrison Street in Newton for seven years until moving to the family farm north of Walton in 1963. Chuck continued to work in the mobile home industry until opening his family welding business in 1980. Esther worked at the ASCS office in Newton, the Farmers’ Grain COOP in Walton, Prairie View in Newton, and drove a school bus for special-needs students—all while raising their 12 children.

Esther was preceded in death by Chuck, her husband of 52 years; her dear daughter, Doris Regier; her parents, Minnie and Henry; and her brothers, Joe, Walt, and Clarence.

Esther is survived by 11 loving children: Theresa (Doug) Wolford of Overland Park, Kan.; Susan (Leroy) Koehn of Newton; Steven (Katie) Hoelscher of Newton; Deborah (Jeff) Brust of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Connie (Rick) Campbell of Canton, Kan.; Sharon (Bob) McCall of Newton; Chuck (Vicki) Hoelscher of Yukon, Okla.; Jim (Sheila) Hoelscher of Walton, Kan.; Mike (Donna) Hoelscher of Derby, Kan.; Doug (Megan) Hoelscher of Lenexa, Kan.; and Mary (John) Dickinson of Omaha, Neb., as well as 23 cherished grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Esther and Chuck were dedicated members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church for more than 60 years. Esther enjoyed cooking for her family, attending and volunteering at St. Mary’s, reading, and spending time on the family farm that she loved.

Funeral Mass was May 8 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Newton, with the Reverend Nicholas Voelker presiding. Recitation of the Holy Rosary was May 7 at the church.

Burial was in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery Newton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Newton, or to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice.

Tags from the story
0 replies on “Obituary: Esther Hoelscher”