Esther M. 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 November 14, 1933, the youngest of four children to Philomena (Minnie) and Henry Lutz, near Fowler, Kansas. The family lived on a farm near Garfield, Kansas 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 November 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 twelve children.

Esther is 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 eleven loving children: Theresa (Doug) Wolford of Overland Park, KS; Susan (Leroy) Koehn of Newton, KS; Steven (Katie) Hoelscher of Newton, KS; Deborah (Jeff) Brust of Pittsburgh, PA; Connie (Rick) Campbell of Canton, KS; Sharon (Bob) McCall of Newton, KS; Chuck (Vicki) Hoelscher of Yukon, OK; Jim (Sheila) Hoelscher of Walton, KS; Mike (Donna) Hoelscher of Derby, KS; Doug (Megan) Hoelscher of Lenexa, KS; and Mary (John) Dickinson of Omaha, NE, 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 will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Newton, Kansas with The Reverend Nicholas Voelker presiding.  Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be 5:00 p.m. Monday May 7 at the church. Visitation will be 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday at Petersen Funeral Home.

Burial will be 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.