Orpha Malinda Schulte, 93, passed away peacefully Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, at the Schulte family farm, where she lived for 70 years.
She was born Sept. 14, 1927 in Cooper Hill to the late Sophia (Sassmann) and Albert Schneider.
She married Calvin Oscar Schulte at St. Paul’s Evangelical & Reform Church in Cooper Hill, Sept. 30, 1950. Calvin preceded her in death in May of 2013.
Orpha was a member of St. James Evangelical Church in Stony Hill. She was a member of Owensville Chapter, Order of Eastern Star No. 414 and served as Worthy Matron. She also was a member of the America Legion Auxiliary for 60 years in Bay.
Orpha was the ultimate mother not only to her children, daughter-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren but to many of her children’s friends through the years. Orpha loved being a wife, a mother and the farm. She was a wonderful cook and seamstress. She taught many how to cook and sew as a 4-H Leader. She shared her love of gardening and respect for the land with her children and grandchildren. She was known as “Mimi” to her absolutely beautiful great-grandbabies. She loved to read books and especially enjoyed discussing cookbook recipes. She enjoyed reading her National Geographic, Missouri Conservationist, weekly Gasconade County newspaper, and of course her Bible.
For many years Orpha worked at Brown Shoe factory in Owensville as one of the floor ladies. After working on her feet all day, she would return to the farm where she would cook supper for the family, made sure school homework was completed, children washed and put to bed; along with ensuring everyone had clothes and lunches ready for the next day. She did all these things out of love for her family and never complained. She said if she complained, “who would listen?”
Orpha was stoic and quiet in nature but for those that were close to her, she could be feisty with a dry sense of humor and had a sly laugh with a twinkle in her eyes. She loved music and some of her children’s favorite memories was watching Mom and Dad dance.
Orpha’s life was a living example of this Bible verse: Ephesians 4:32 - “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Orpha was preceded in death by her parents, Sophia and Albert; husband, Calvin Schulte, May 6, 2013; son, Mark Calvin Schulte, July 10, 2016; brother, Edsel Schneider; and sisters, Alvera Grechen, Evelyn Niebruegge, Viola DeVoogt and Bernice Brehe.
Her survivors include her children, Kathryn Schulte of Fenton and Paul Schulte of Owensville; Mark’s family: daughter-in-law, Evelyn Schulte of Owensville; Angella Sell and husband Dan of Howell, Mich.; Rachael Jarrett and husband Brian of Owensville; and her beautiful great-grandchildren, Nora Ruth and Benjamin Calvin Jarrett; sister, Lavern Brandhorst of Owensville; sister-in-law, Vida Mehrhoff of Corder; and many nieces and nephews.
Please join us in a celebration of her life. Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. followed with funeral services, Thursday, Dec. 10, at 11 a.m. at St. James Evangelical Church in Stony Hill with Rev. Van Lahmeyer officiating. Burial will be in Countryside Memorial Gardens in Owensville. Please observe COVID restrictions. Masks are requested but not mandatory.
The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers sent to Compassus Hospice in her memory (https://www.compassus.com/about-us/giving-and-donations) or family choice, c/o Gottenstroeter Funeral Home, 108 S. Second Street, Owensville, MO 65066.
