Erna Katharina Muller, 102

Erna Katharina Muller, 102, of Cole Camp, died Saturday, June 27, 2015, at Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center, Sedalia.  She was born on May 28, 1913, on the family farm near Cole Camp, a daughter of Gottlieb and Katie L. (Lumpe) Muller.

She attended Bahrenburg School and graduated from Cole Camp High School in 1931.  For 13 years, she taught elementary school at Balke Prairie School and Bahrenburg School.  In 1943, she received her teacher's certificate from CMSC in Warrensburg.

In 1945, she moved to Cole Camp and joined Trinity Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday school, sang in the choir and was a member and former officer of the Circle Plan.  She took a position as a bookkeeper at Citizens Farmers Bank and at the time of her retirement was a cashier and Secretary of the Board.  After her retirement, she enjoyed traveling and shopping.

Erna served as secretary of the City Planning and Zoning Commission, City Collector of Taxes, and served on the Board and as treasurer of Cole Camp Retirement Village when it was being built.  She volunteered some at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home, Cole Camp Museum, and Cole Camp Senior Center.

She is survived by:
two nieces, Idolene Mazza and her husband Joseph and Barbara Desmond and her husband James;
three great-nieces, Michelle (Aaro) Froese, Andrea (Daniel) Follett, and Erin (Joel) Helland;
four great-nephews, Daniel Desmond, Michael Desmond, David Desmond, and Stephen Desmond;
five great-great-nieces, Skyler, Sophie, Rebekah, Moriah, and Claire; and
two great-great-nephews, Nick and Josiah.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gottlieb and Katie Muller, two sisters, Alvina Muller and Esther Muller, one brother, Emil Muller, a sister-in-law, Orene Muller, and a nephew, Orville Muller.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2015, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cole Camp, with Pastor Jeffrey Kuddes officiating.  Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, rural Cole Camp.

The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until service time on Wednesday at the church.

The family suggests memorial contributions be given to the Lutheran School Association Student Tuition Fund in care of the Fox Funeral Home, Cole Camp.

Pallbearers will be Aaro Froese, Daniel Follett, Daniel Desmond, Michael Desmond, Joel Helland, and Stephen Desmond.