Erline T Voigt

Erline T. Voigt, age 81, of Marion, Texas, passed away Thursday, April 24, 2014 at Autumn Winds Retirement Lodge. Erline was born on October 27, 1932 in Seguin, Texas to Ernst Fritz Beutnagel and Olga (Vader) Beutnagel. She is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her children Clarence Lee Voigt and wife, Kimberly and Marlene Sue Carmean and husband Paul; grandchildren David and Isabella Carmean; step grandchildren, Nicholas Fiedler and wife Michelle and Edward Fiedler; and numerous step great grandchildren; her brother Delvin Beutnagel and wife Verna Lee; niece Valerie Hartmann and husband Darvin, and nephew Brian Beutnagel and wife Tammy.

Erline known as “Tutie” grew up north of New Berlin in Marion Texas with her parents and younger brother Delvin. She was baptized December 25, 1932, and confirmed September 8, 1946 from Evangelical Reformed Church of Zuehl. She attended Marion School and graduated May 18, 1951 as salutatorian. In those early years she would help her family pick cotton out of the fields. On December 16, 1956 she married Marvin Voigt at St. Paul Evangelical Church, and they made a home on a farm in Cibolo. Together they had two children. Clarence was born September 4, 1957 and Marlene was born August 17, 1972. During their marriage they raised corn, hay, wheat and sugar cane as well as other crops through the years. Erline was very busy at home raising chickens, having fifteen hundred chickens at a time. She had to hand wash all the eggs and sold them on a regular egg route. Also on the farm were cattle and sheep to take care of. Summers were especially busy since that was when she would help haul hay, pick corn, and bring in other crops, as well as help with the honey extraction process that would last for months at times. Even though these activities took much of her time, she also had a vegetable garden as well as fruit trees and canned all summer long, having plenty of canned goods to last all year. If Erline decided to make chicken for dinner, she would go to the hen house, and grab a few chickens and have them ready for supper in time to eat. She enjoyed deer hunting and was very proficient at field dressing a deer by herself. Erline and her family truly lived off the farm with the animals that were raised and hunted and the fruits and vegetables she grew. She loved sewing and made many of her own clothes throughout her lifetime. She would also sew baby blankets and other gifts for friends and family and even the local fire departments for fundraising. Of German decent, her main speaking language was German, although she spoke very well in English and as many of the old generation, they mix the two languages mid sentence. Erline was a wonderful country western dancer and always took advantage of any dance, whether it was a wedding or any other party. Erline was a businesswoman as a residential landlord in Schertz and Marion and tried hard to treat her tenants well. Around age 60, she started her own utility trailer business out of her home in Marion, which she continued until just a few months ago. She was considered a very kind business owner working with each customer on a personal basis, even offering layaway. Erline loved helping her community often by donating plants and her craft items to her church during bazaars and to local fire departments and other community events. She continued to start up new hobbies including ceramics and crocheting. She made crocheted blankets for all of her children and grandchildren in recent years. Even all of her trailer customers received a free crocheted potholder of their choice with each trailer purchase as an additional thank you. Erline lived a full healthy life, never needing hospitalization other than the birth of her children, until February 1st of this year, when she had a severe stroke. After rehab she was admitted into Autumn Winds Retirement Lodge until she passed away in her sleep on April 24th, 2014. She will be remembered by her family for her blankets, giving attitude and helpfulness.

The family will receive guests at a visitation from 4-8 on Friday, May 2, 2014 at Goetz Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at Goetz Funeral Home on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 10 am, with burial following at Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park.