RUEMPEL

Clara Steubing Ruempel, age 99, passed away August 23, 1997.  Mrs. Ruempel was a member of Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes for more than 90 years.  She was preceded in death by husband, Anton Ruempel.  She is survived by daughters, Lucille Pinson, Margie Hutchings and husband George; grandchildren, Donald and Kenny Pinson, Linda Jones, Tommy Hutchings and Marnell Moore; 6 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and friends also survive.  Funeral Services will be 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, August 26, 1997 at Zion Lutheran Church with Rev. Peter Manfred and Rev. Scott Sorenson officiating.  Interment to follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Helotes.  Visitation is 7-9 P.M., Monday, August 25th at Sunset Northwest.  The family extends loving gratitude to Dorothy Gerth, her caretaker.  Memorial contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes Building Fund.

Clara Ruempel was born on May 28, 1898, in New Braunfels, Texas, the 6th of 7 children born to the farming family of Carl and Sabine Steubing.  Clara was baptized into the Christian faith and Christ her Lord in the German Protestant Church of New Braunfels on October 16, 1898.

At the age of 4, her family moved to the Leon Valley area where they continued farming.  Upon its official organization in 1904, Clara became a charter member of Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes, and was a member continuously for the entire 93 year history of this congregation!  She confirmed her faith in Christ her Lord in Zion's first chapel at the age of 11, on March 27, 1910.  She and Anton were married in the same chapel on September 28, 1921.  At that time she moved into the home she lived in her remaining 76-plus years, less than a mile from the church on Braun Road.  Clara was not only active in the church, but she and Anton would often provide dinner and lodging for the many pastors who for several years would srve Zion on a part-time basis, or on an interim basis when the church was between pastors.

Anton and Clara had two daughters, Lucille and Margie, who were a central part of Clara's life.  Sometime in the 40s, Anton built a dairy barn and he and Clara were in the dairying business until Anton had a heart attack in 1958.  Anton died following a second heart attack, on June 6 1960.

Clara lived alone in her home until she fell and broke her hip in 1987.  Eventually, around 1991, Dorothy Gerth came to be with Clara as her careprovider, which was a real God-send to Clara

Clara's life revolved around her family and her church.  Right up to her last days she was a virtual encyclopedia of people and events in the life of the congregation and community.  In the last several months she longed for the beautiful rest in Jesus' name.  She was granted that hope and promise this past Saturday, August 23, at the age of 99 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband Anton, and son-in-law, Buddy Pinson.  She is survived by her daughter, Lucille Pinson, and daughter, Margie and husband George Hutchings, as well as grandchildren, Donald Pinson, Kenny Pinson, Linda Jones, Tommy Hutchings and Marnell Moore, 6 great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and friends.