Evelyn Faye Zeckser

Evelyn Faye Zeckser, 103, of Alma, Kansas, died peacefully on May 1, 2023, at McCrite Plaza.  She was a life-long resident of Alma.

Evelyn was born January 13, 1920, in rural Alma, Kansas, the oldest daughter of John Henry and Ida Helen Heder Meyer.  She married Elmer Zeckser on March 22, 1939, at St. John Lutheran Church in Alma.  He preceded her in death on July 15, 2001.

She went to grade school in Alma, then, at 14 years old, worked for different families by cleaning houses and taking care of mothers with new babies.  For this, she made $2 a week plus room and board. She was a housewife and a farm wife during most of the years their daughters were growing up.  They had a large garden and she canned and froze anything and everything, sewed all their clothes, did embroidery and other handwork.  Elmer and Evelyn raised cattle, hogs, chickens and registered quarter horses.  Evelyn later worked for the Harvey House Café, the Rexall Drugstore for Francis Newton, and then for Milton Rubottom.  Later, she babysat and worked in the laundry department at the Alma Manor. 
 
She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church her entire life, was secretary of the Walther League, belonged to the Friendship Circle, was a 4-H leader and a member of EHU, a home economics group.  Some of Elmer and Evelyn’s most fun times were when they belonged to a local dance group in Alma back in the 1960’s.

Evelyn loved flowers and had a large flower garden that she was well-known for.  In later years, she joined the group of hand quilters at the Wabaunsee County Museum and enjoyed the Thursday morning coffee group.  Evelyn enjoyed doing the laundry (Monday was always laundry day), loved to read, and still did all her own cooking and, except for the last year, her own cleaning, but she especially liked to make cookies and other desserts because she wanted to have something on hand for coffee when she had company.

Evelyn is survived by her daughter, Marilyn Thomas of Topeka; son-in-law, Adolph “Sam” Moege of Alma; six grandchildren:  Terry Moege (Debbie), Valley Center, KS; Cheryl Markle (Fletcher), Arvada, CO; Shelly Bush (Daryl), Oklahoma City, OK; Kevin Thomas (Diane), Smithville, MO; Kurt Thomas (Karena), Topeka, KS; and Kris Thomas (Heather), Topeka, KS; 14 great-grandchildren;  Matthew, Reagan, Will, Bridget, Sydney, Delanie, Braden, Nathan, Samantha, Lacee, Jerod, Savannah, Kristopher and JaCory; one great great grandson:  Myles Reid Moege; and many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elmer Zeckser; her daughter, Carole Moege; a sister, Naomi Stuewe; and a brother, Melvin Meyer.

Evelyn will lie-in-state on Friday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church Memorial Hall in Alma.  A visitation will be Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., with the family, prior to the service.  The funeral service will be held Saturday at 11:00 a.m., at St. John Lutheran Church in Alma with Rev. Robert Grimm officiating.  Burial will follow in St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to St. John Lutheran Church or the Alma Library and sent in care of Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home, 4370 Salzer Rd, Wamego, KS 66547.  Online condolences may be made at www.campanellastewart.com.