Shirley Irene (Theel) Waters

Shirley Irene (Theel) Waters, 71, of rural Alma, Kansas, passed away at her home Sunday, November 30, 2008. She was born Jan. 3, 1937 in Manhattan, Kansas, the daughter of Vincent and Irene (Fink) Theel. She attended a one room country school north of Manhattan thru 5th grade and moved with her family in 1946 to a farm near Alma. She then attended St. John Lutheran School until 8th grade, and graduated from Alma High School in 1954. She married Patrick H. Waters on June 13, 1954 in Alma. They lived south of Topeka until August of 1959, when her husband was transferred to Mobile, AL until 1965, and then to San Antonio, TX, until 1976 when they returned to Topeka, Kansas. In 1978, they moved to McFarland, KS where they resided for 4 years, before moving northwest of Alma to her family’s farm, where she lived until her death. Her husband, Patrick, preceded her in death in August of 1989. While in San Antonio, Shirley held many P.T.A. offices, one of which was President of the John Glenn Elementary School P.T.A. She was especially proud to have received the Texas P.T.A. Life Member award. She was also a member of the St. John Lutheran Church of Alma, the United Community Club, and the District 3 Card Club. She was also proud to have started the annual Theel family reunion, now going over 20 years. She enjoyed going for drives in the countryside, gardening, playing cards, and helping people and families who were in need. She is survived by her three daughters, Audrey Waters and Bernice Waters, both of Alma, KS, and Cindy Louk, of St. George, KS; one sister, Virginia Snodgrass, of Alma, KS; three brothers, Phillip Theel, of Alma, KS, David Theel, of Eudora, KS, John Theel, of Lake Charles, LA; two grandsons, Charles Thomas and Richard Louk; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mrs. Waters will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008 at St. John Lutheran Church in Alma, burial to follow in the church cemetery. She will lie in-state at the Stewart Funeral Home of Alma beginning at 1:00 p.m. Friday, where a visitation will be held from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Memorials are suggested in her name to be designated later, and may be left in care of the Stewart Funeral Home of Alma, PO Box 126, Alma, 66401.