Viola Adeline Niemtschk

Viola Adeline Niemtschk, 90, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016.

Viola was born on Dec. 12, 1925, in Kerrville to Henry and Annie (Von Gonten) Abel. She was very much a people person and never met a stranger. She prided herself in her appearance by always dressing nicely and had her hair done every Friday.

She and her late husband, Erwin, owned and operated Thorndale Hardware from 1961 to 1991. She also worked in ranching until 2000. In the early 60s, she became a lifetime member of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Thorndale. She was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Thorndale Fire Department. In the last several years, the highlight of her day was to wake up early to “have a coffee” and breakfast with her husband and friends. In her spare time, she loved to cook, read cookbooks and loved admiring the flowers in her yard. She also loved to go bowling, made frequent trips to gamble in Oklahoma, camping, and traveling to numerous states with her husband, Alton, and friends on local Christian camping retreats.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Leon Laffere and Erwin Niemtschk; brother, Henry Abel; and great-granddaughter, Jordan Plauschinat.

She is survived by her husband, Alton Huelsebusch; daughter, Janet Schwarz and husband Phillip of Georgetown; sons, Larry Laffere and wife Janee of Thorndale, and Stephen Niemtschk and wife Laurie of Thorndale; step-daughters, Lou Biar and husband Billy of Thorndale, and Pam Yurk and husband Robert of Thorndale; grandchildren, Kristen Schwarz of Chatum, New Jersey, Brad Schwarz and wife Valerie of Rockwall, Teri Marek and husband Blake of Thorndale, Jon Laffere and wife Angie of Thorndale, Kaylee Floerke and husband Sam of Sinton, Kara Niemtschk of College Station, Lane Niemtschk of Thorndale, Darren Biar and wife Shannon of Thorndale, Gavin Biar and wife Kim of Thorndale, and Wesley Yurk and wife Sheri of Lexington; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Darren Biar, Wesley Yurk, Gavin Biar, Brad Schwarz, Jon Laffere and Lane Niemtschk.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016, from 5- 8 p.m. at Providence Funeral Home Chapel. Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, at 10 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Thorndale. Burial to follow at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to St. Paul Lutheran Building Fund at P.O. Box 369, Thorndale, TX 76577 or to the charity of your choice.