Winnie Pearl Kelm

Winnie Pearl Siepert Kelm of Hamilton went to be with her Lord Saturday, Dec. 26, at the age of 84 years and 5 days. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 2, at 2 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church of Hamilton with Rev. Keith Reich officiating. Interment will follow at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Aleman. The family will receive friends Saturday from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the St. John Family Life Center.

Winnie Pearl was born Dec. 21, 1931, in Hamilton County to Leon Gustav and Esther Gertrude Schrank Siepert. She was baptized at St. Paul Lutheran of Aleman by Rev. E. F. Moerbe on Jan. 10, 1932, and confirmed on May 20, 1945. She attended St. Paul Lutheran Parochial School and Blue Ridge School before graduating from Hamilton High School in 1949. She married Habert T. Kelm April 9, 1950, at St. Paul Lutheran, and they celebrated more than 49 years together before he died August 25, 1999.

Winnie Pearl was a stay-at-home mom during her three children’s early lives on the family farm in Shive. After they started school, she worked as a sales clerk at Clemmer-Vaughn Dry Goods, as a seamstress at Patty’s of Texas, and as a cook, Food Service Supervisor, and Business Office Manager at Leisure Lodge Nursing Home from where she retired in 1997 after 23 years.

Winnie Pearl loved to cook, sew, crochet, quilt, garden, and attend sporting events of her children and grandchildren. She loved to host meals and birthday parties for family and friends, and her door was always open to guests.

She greatly enjoyed her church life throughout her married years and beyond at St. John Lutheran of Hamilton where she was a Sunday school teacher and member and officer of the Ruth Guild.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brother Leon Gustav Siepert, Jr.

Survivors include her two sons Dudley Kelm of Jewett and Delbert Kelm and wife Sherry of Crawford and her daughter Christy Murphy and husband Robert of Crawford; her five grandchildren Nate Kelm of Carthage, Mandy Vannatta and husband Tommy of Crawford, Maegan Denard and husband Dustin of Crawford, Sarah Johle and husband Aaron of Hutto, and Lee Murphy and wife Alicia of Tyler; and her six great grandchildren Easton Vannatta, Cooper and Camden Denard, Wyatt and Olsen Johle, and Cozette and Byrdie Pearl (due in April) Murphy.

Pallbearers will be the grandsons and nephews Jerry Siepert and David Siepert.

The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff of Hamilton Healthcare for the fine care and love given to Winnie Pearl during her last three years.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to St. John Lutheran Ruth Guild or a charity of choice.