Elaine Elizabeth Pelzel

Our beloved mother was called home to be with our Heavenly Father on Monday morning, October 30, 2017, at the age of 90.

Rosary for Elaine Pelzel will be held Wednesday at 5:45 pm at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rowena. Funeral Mass will be Thursday at 10:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church with burial at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery followed by a dinner at St. Thomas Parish Hall in Miles, Texas.

Elaine Elizabeth (Lange) Pelzel was born February 24, 1927 in a small farm house in Rowena, Texas to Frank and Isabella (Dierschke) Lange. She attended school in Rowena and graduated valedictorian of her class in 1943. She attended college at Our Lady of the Lake in San Antonio and taught school in several of the rural schools in Runnels County.

Elaine married LeRoy Pelzel on August 27, 1947 and together they farmed in the Miles area for 47 years. Along with being a farm wife, Elaine was passionate about raising her family in a faith-filled home. She was very involved in the lives of her five children, always willing to volunteer in any way to help out at a school, community, or church event. Elaine loved to cook and bake which became her therapy later in life. Anyone was always welcome in their home for a meal. She also enjoyed sewing as one of her hobbies as the family was growing up.

Elaine was a member of the St. Theresa Altar Society at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Miles and also the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 9196 in Rowena. Elaine and her husband LeRoy enjoyed a very active life together until her massive stroke in January 2015 that left her unable to talk. Their 67 years of marriage were filled with dancing, traveling, and enjoying their growing family.

She was preceded in death by her husband LeRoy William Pelzel; her parents, Frank and Isabella Lange; parents-in-law, Louis and Mary Pelzel; a granddaughter, Michaela Pelzel; sisters, Bernice Gully and Edna Schaefer; brother, David Lange; in-laws, Harvey Gully, Lester Schaefer, Hilmer Schaefer, Iola Pelzel, Diana Pelzel and Clifton Braden.

She is survived by her five children, Janet Braden and husband Charles of St. Lawrence, Pat Pelzel and wife Rose of St. Lawrence, Richard Pelzel and wife Gaye of Miles, Ruth Wilde and husband Don of Wall, and Curtis Pelzel and wife Connie of Miles.

Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren include: Janet’s family: Chris Braden and wife Heather, children Caleb and Jacob of San Angelo, Duane and wife Carla, children Tatum and Katie of St. Lawrence, and Paula Pepper and husband Lane, children Lance and Layton of Corpus Christi. Pat’s family: Brian Pelzel of San Angelo, Jody Pelzel of Fort Worth, and Bonnie Stovall and husband Parker, children Ryder and Jax of Midland. Richard’s family: Julie Grohman and husband Josh, daughter Riley of Tuscola, Lacy Bailey and husband Jon, children Davis, Truett, Brogan and Rhett of San Angelo, and Logan Pelzel of Miles. Ruth’s family: Joslynn Wilde of New York City, her friend Tyler Speer of Atlanta, GA. and Dee Jay Wilde and wife Courtney of Wall. Curtis’s family: Nicole Pelzel of Miles.

She is also survived by her sister MaeDell Schaefer and brother Andrew Lange and wife Helen of Rowena, in-laws Pat Kvapil and husband Stanley of Rowena, Lawrence Pelzel, Gladys Pelzel and Louis Pelzel, Jr. all of San Angelo.

Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

The family would like to give a very special thanks to caregivers Kay Scott and Fay Hatten. Also thanks to Hospice of Ballinger for their loving care.

Memorials may be made to the St. Thomas Building Fund, Box 306, Miles, TX 76861, St. Joseph Building Fund, Hospice of Ballinger, 112 S 7th St. B, Ballinger, TX 76821, or a charity of your choice.