Lorestine Marie Schmelzle, 86, of Seneca, Kansas passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 10, 2019 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. After a brief hospitalization in Topeka, it was her wish to return home to be closer to her family.

She was born on August 9, 1933 to Martin and Mary E. (Lauer) Steinmetz. She attended Greenwood Country School in Pottawatomie County through the 8th Grade and graduated from Wamego High School in 1951. After graduation she worked at Larson & Sons Department Store in Wamego from 1951-1958.

On October 13, 1958, she married Cletus (Clete) J. Schmelzle at St. Joseph’s Church in Flush; the couple celebrated 42 years of marriage prior to Clete’s death on May 30, 2001. In 1969 they started LCC Eggs, a large modern egg-producing business, from which she ‘retired’ on December 31, 1996. She was known as the ‘egg lady’ throughout Nemaha county, and most years she would host elementary kids from Hiawatha schools and provide a tour of the chicken houses.

After retirement, Lorestine spent many hours sewing blankets which would later be donated to the Rescue Mission in Topeka. You could spot her blankets because of the bright colors and her ‘zig zag’ stitch. She would always say that she hoped the blankets would be warmer than a cardboard box.

Lorestine never met a stranger, her door was always open, and cookies/apple muffins were always available. She enjoyed volunteering at the Mission Center and the Columbian Theatre in Wamego.

She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, and St. Ann’s Altar Society.

Survivors include three sons, Michael (Rhonda) Schmelzle, Douglas (Monae) Schmelzle, and Martin (Laurie) Schmelzle, all of Seneca; a daughter, Amy (Charles) Miles of Claremore, Oklahoma; a sister Marjorie Hansen of Wichita, 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:00am on Thursday, November 14 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A visitation will be held at 9:30am prior to mass.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Lorestine Schmelzle Memorial Fund to be designated later for assistance to local community organizations.