Clara Elizabeth Stenzel was born August 27, 1923, in Broken Arrow, OK, to the late John and Martha (Scheer) Ruffertshoefer. She passed away Thursday, June 7, 2012 in the Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital Long Term Care at WaKeeney at the age of 88.


On November 17, 1946, Clara married Paul Stenzel in the Zion Lutheran Church at Trego Center. She and Paul farmed and raised cattle on their farm south of WaKeeney.


Clara was an avid seamstress in Trego County and surrounding communities for 40 plus years.


She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and Lutheran Christian Women at Trego Center, often playing the organ for church services, the Sunflower Polka Club of Hays, and Friendship Club, of WaKeeney. She also enjoyed gardening and her greatest joys were the grandchildren.


Those left to mourn her passing include two daughters, Sharon Abair and husband, Gene, Bullhead City, AZ, Karlene Loflin of Olathe; a son Eugene Stenzel and wife, Tammae, of WaKeeney; four grandchildren, Tammy Gros' and husband, Bryan, Heather Hargitt and husband, Brett, Ashley Schmidt and husband, Nick, and Tyler Stenzel; nine step-grandchildren, Christina Cantrell and husband, Matt, Brandi Nowlin and husband, Tony, Bryan Flax and wife, Megan, Paula Jones and husband, Tracy, Jeanne Karadanis and husband, Marty, Marcia Turner, Linda Bonnie, Jason Abair and Russell Cooley: five great-grandchildren, and fourteen step-great-grandchildren.


Clara's husband, Paul; a brother, Walter Ruffertshoefer; and two sisters, Helen Gabel and Gertrude Deines, preceded her in death.

Visitation for Clara is 5-7 PM, Sunday, June 10, 2012 at Schmitt Funeral Home in WaKeeney. Services will be 10:00 AM, Monday, June 11, 2012 in Zion Lutheran Church at Trego Center, KS. Interment is in the church cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Trego County Lemke Long Term Care and can be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672