Marcella was born on February 6, 1923, on a farm outside Shelton, Nebraska to Paul and Martha Ohlman. She went to grade school in a one-room schoolhouse in the country. After graduating from high school, Marcella moved to Denver to work and where she met her future husband, Ed. They were married on November 22, 1947, and they settled in the country in Nebraska to work for the telephone company, manning the switchboard and fixing the telephone lines. They ultimately moved to Kansas City where they raised two daughters, Karen and Linda.
Marcella was a devout Lutheran and had a passion for playing the organ and singing in the church choir. She and Ed were charter members of Peace Lutheran Church which was the center of their social life. She loved dogs and had several dachshunds throughout her lifetime. Marcella enjoyed dancing and often spoke fondly of her time in Denver where she and her Aunt Esther would go out dancing with the servicemen stationed there. Marcella loved to play cards, especially Pinochle, and it remained one of her favorite pastimes up to the last days of her life.
Marcella was preceded in death by her husband, Ed; daughter, Linda Hampton; parents, Paul and Martha Ohlman; and brothers, Willis and Elton Ohlman. She is survived by her daughter, Karen Daugherty; granddaughter, Brianne Daugherty; grandsons, Zachary and Jacob Hampton; great-grandsons, Alex and Teyo Rodriguez; sisters, Donna Niemack and Betty White and several nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Riverstone who watched over Marcella as her health started to deteriorate. She was fortunate to have a sharp mind until the end.
Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 22, 2022 at Mount Moriah Funeral Home,10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64131, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Lunch will be served at 1:00 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, 8240 Blue Ridge Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri 64138.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Peace Lutheran Church or Christ Lutheran Church, 6700 N.W. 72nd Street, Platte Woods, Missouri 64151.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mtmoriah.net for the Zele family.
