Madelyn D. Oehmke

Madelyn Dorothy Winter Oehmke, 86, of Palmer, Kansas, passed away Saturday, August 12, 2017. Visitation was from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at the Ward Funeral Home in Linn. A funeral service was 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 16, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Palmer, KS. Rev. Tom Sahl officiated. Kris Winter Nelson was organist and the congregation sang “How Great Thou Art” and “Go My Children, With My Blessing.” Pallbearers were Ryan Ohlde, Todd Ohlde, Aaron Oehmke, Jason Oehmke, Jordy Crimmins and Justin Oehmke. Burial was in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Palmer. Madelyn was born October 28, 1930 at Palmer, KS to Conrad and Ella (Killman) Winter. She attended grade school in Palmer, graduated from high school in Linn, graduated from Fairbury Junior College and earned her Bachelors degree from Kansas State University in Manhattan. Madelyn was a lifetime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Palmer where she was baptized, confirmed, and married. She married Lawrence Oehmke on June 3, 1955. He preceded her death in 1993. Madelyn retired after teaching for 40 years as an elementary first grade teacher. She taught at Clifton, Spring Creek, Parallel and Palmer. Teaching brought great joy to her life. She especially enjoyed helping with the farming, flowers and gardening, walking while enjoying the wonders of God’s world, and going camping and fishing with her husband and friends. She also enjoyed having her grandchildren stay with her and bake cookies. Madelyn was an active member of St. Paul Church serving as an organist for many years, singing in the choir, teaching Bible school and committee work. Madelyn loved embroidery in her retirement years and made numerous quilts and table runners for her family. She tried to never miss a good baseball game, especially the Royals or Atlanta Braves. We can’t forget the KU and K States basketball games. She cheered for both teams. She is preceded in death by her parents, C.W. and Ella Winter; husband, Lawrence; step-son, Larry Oehmke; brothers, Delbert Winter and Lavern Winter; in-laws, Claude Johnson, Marge Winter, Dean and Marie Winter, Harold Oehmke and Betty Adams. Survivors are her three children, Debbie (Dennis) Ohlde, Alan (Marcy) Oehmke, and Dennis (Annette) Oehmke; 18 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren; sister, Evelyn Johnson, The Dalles, Oregon; sisters-in-law, Donnette Oehmke, Linn, and Ladell Winter, Church Hill, TN; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial fund is established to St. Paul Luthern Church. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, PO Box 157, Washington, KS 66968. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Madelyn D. Oehmke, please visit our flower store.