Genelda Fay Stahmer

Funeral services for Genelda Stahmer are scheduled for Friday, June 6, 2025 at 10:30 am. at St. John Lutheran Church in Rutersville (5743 State Highway 159, La Grange, TX, 78945), with interment following at the La Grange City Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, June 5,2025 from 12 noon until 7 pm, with family receiving friends from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. A prayer service will take place at 7:00 p.m.

Genelda Stahmer, 93, of La Grange, passed away on June 1, 2025. She was born near Rutersville on December 10, 1931, to Max and Elsie (Fiedler) Citzler. She was baptized February 7, 1932, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in La Grange, Texas. She was confirmed September 16, 1945, at St. John Lutheran Church in Rutersville. Her confirmation verse was Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” She was a faithful member of St. John since her confirmation, attending worship regularly as long as she was able. While growing up, she helped her parents with chores on the farm, including driving the tractor and riding her horse. She attended school at Harms School in Rutersville through 8th grade and graduated from La Grange High School on May 22, 1949. She married her sweetheart, Walter Stahmer at St. Paul Lutheran Church in La Grange on September 17, 1950, and they were married 37 years until Walter's death on May 10, 1988. She loved spending time with Walter attending Hermann Sons events, dancing to polkas and waltzes, and spending evenings at the camphouse that she and Walter built next to the tank that her parents built on the Citzler homeplace. She and Walter visited their parents regularly on weekends and holidays with their children, and with their extended families, teaching them the values, virtues, and rewards of a family who loved and cared for another.

Genelda cared for her four young children at home until the youngest, Laurie, was around three years old. She began her working career employed by Fayette County as office clerk for a couple of county officials in the Fayette County Courthouse. She later accepted a position in the banking business for La Grange State Bank and State Bank in La Grange and continued her employment there for many years until her retirement. After her retirement, she worked in ladies retail at That’s My Style in La Grange. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Rutersville since her confirmation. She was a member of the church Ladies Aid group, and later WELCA, and participated in the St. John Lutheran Church quilting group until her health declined in 2020. She also volunteered at Camp Lutherhill with preparing mailings. She was a member of Plum Sons of Hermann Lodge #238 for over 60 years, and after her retirement from full-time employment was also a general agent for the Sons of Hermann as an insurance salesperson. She also loved attending Tuesday co-worker and friend lunch, Wednesday daughters & Mom lunch, and Country Music Mondays at the La Grange KC Hall. She was a great fan of the Houston Astros! She wouldn’t miss a game on TV and even attended a game or two in person!

She will be dearly missed by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchild along with many nieces and nephews. Genelda’s neighbors and friends were also very dear to her. And in recent years, Genelda had a number of very special caregivers, Shawn Willis, Shavon Lewis, Janette McKenzie, and Rebecca Hooks and all of the caregivers and staff at Bec’s Blessing, each of whom grew to love her dearly. As one of her granddaughters said, “Ninety-three amazing years, centered around faith, family, and love.”

Genelda is survived by her four children and their spouses, Kathy and Russell Hensel, Joyce and John Wied, Bob and Linda Stahmer, and Laurie and Curtis Karisch. She is also survived by her thirteen grandchildren and their spouses: Mike and April Hensel, Jim and Michelle Hensel, Laura and Cody Fritsch, Heather and Russell Muesse, Sarah and Ryan Weishuhn, Megan and Jason Demshar, Theresa and Brian Dorst, Marty and Christie Hensley, Robby and Katherine Stahmer, Dusty and Kelly Stahmer, Brandon and Carissa Karisch, Matt and Brandi Karisch, and Steven Karisch. In addition, she is survived by her twenty-five great-grandchildren Blake and wife, Claire Hensel; Cole Hensel and his fiancée, Lauren Perkins; Brenna, Camdyn, and Cade Hensel; Ellie and Abby Fritsch; Landon and Carson Muesse; Parker and Chance Weishuhn; Ainslee and Aiden Demshar; William Dorst; Reese Hensley and her fiancé Sam Dunn, Reid, and Rylee Hensley; Olivia and Cooper Stahmer; Austin and Emmett Stahmer; Rheagan and Rilan Karisch; and Mason and Miles Karisch. She is also survived by one great-great-grandson, Luke Hensel, and great-great-grandson Hensel due in August. Additionally, she is survived by her sister-in-law Arlene Peschke, and brother-in-law and wife, John W. and Nancy Stahmer, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter; parents, Max and Elsie Citzler, parents-in-law, John and Edna Stahmer, infant brother, Marvin Citzler, brothers and wives: Arthur and Edna Citzler, Atlan and Verlene Citzler. Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Leon and Myrtle Harbers, and Royce Peschke.

Pallbearers will be Genelda's grandsons, Mike Hensel, Blake Hensel (great-grandson serving on behalf of his father Mike, who was not able to attend due to illness), Jim Hensel, Marty Hensley, Robby Stahmer, Dusty Stahmer, Brandon Karisch, Matt Karisch, and Steven Karisch. Honorary pallbearers will be Genelda’s granddaughters Theresa Dorst, Laura Fritsch, Heather Muesse, Sarah Weishuhn, and Megan Demshar.

Family requests memorial donations be made to St. John Lutheran Church, 5743 State Highway 159, La Grange, Texas 78945; Camp Lutherhill – Citzler Endowment, P.O. Box 99, La Grange, Texas 78945; or to Hospice Brazos Valley, 1048 N Jefferson St., La Grange, Texas 78945.

Services are under the Care and Direction of Fayette Memorial Funeral Home of La Grange Texas. Please visit www.fayettememorialfuneralhome.com to share memories and leave your condolences for the family.