Thekla Anna Hill Kollatschny

Thekla Anna Hill Kollatschny was born on March 31, 1919 in Welcome, Texas to parents Otto Hill and wife Anna Ripple Hill. She was the youngest of eight children. Her siblings Almuth Prause, Baldwin Hill, Isabella Hudson, Guenther Hill, Donnie Hill, Guido Hill, and Leon Hill all predeceased her. She grew up in Mentz and Cat Spring. Her father was a farmer but he also cooked syrup for neighbors who would bring their sugar cane or sorghum to their home. She was educated in the Bachelor Hill School and then later when the family moved to Cat Spring, the Cat Spring School, where in 1936 she graduated valedictorian of her class of three. She always had aspirations of becoming a nurse or teacher. Her family believes she attained those goals as she made her family her number one priority all of her life, making sure they were healthy, educated, and well loved and cared for while she was able. Thekla was baptized July 25, 1920 at the Zohr Lutheran Church in Mentz where her parents were members. She was confirmed on October 2, 1932 at St. John Lutheran Church of Cat Spring by Rev. J. K. Poch. She remembered watching the original church in Cat Spring being built; she attended Sunday school and church services in private homes prior to completion of St. John. She was a lifetime member of St. John Lutheran Church of Cat Spring. At one time she was a member of the choir and was active in the ladies' aid, later the WELCA, serving in several office capacities. She was the first memorial fund secretary for St. John. She considered her church family her second family. On December 1, 1939 she married the love of her life, Adolph Kollatschny, Jr. of Cat Spring in New Gulf, Texas where he worked for Duval Sulphur. They would purchase a house in Cat Spring, Texas and make that their home for their entire married life. On January 9, 2001, Adolph died at the age of ninety-two. Thekla, also known as Tuddy, would remain there until 2009 when she made her home with her daughter Margie, in Bellville. She was a fantastic mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin, friend and neighbor. She was a mentor, a caregiver extra ordinary, wonderful cook, seamstress, kickball and volleyball player, board game player and babysitter. She liked to do embroidery work and read. She relished time spent with her family. Sunday meals on the back porch were an event no one missed if at all possible. She was known for cooking or baking everyone's favorite. A meal at her home was a feast. She loved making her family the most important part of her life. She is survived by her two daughters, Mary Lou Winkelmann and husband Roger of Brenham; and her daughter Margaret Ann Lovell of Bellville. She is also survived by her grandchildren Christopher John Steinbach of Austin; and Gretchen Steinbach Clepper and husband Clay of Cypress and their two children Annie Elizabeth and Samuel Clay Clepper. Her family also included stepchildren and step grandchildren that she loved, adored and considered her own. They include Steve Lovell of Seattle, WA; and Jan Lovell Bond and husband Gary of Midland, TX; and their daughter Rhonda Gail Bond of Amarillo as well as Lane Winkelmann and wife Audrau of Industry, TX and their daughters Emma and Ella Winkelmann and Kelli Winkelmann Baehren and husband Scott and their two daughters Katarina and Kassidy of Cypress, TX. She is also survived by one sister-in-law and numerous nephews and nieces, great nephews and great nieces and great-great nephews and nieces that she loved and adored. She was "Aunt Tuddy" to many. She was also "Wah", a name her grandson gave her forty-some years ago. That name would stick and when someone would try to pronounce her first or last name, she would say "just call me Wah." She was predeceased by her parents, husband and siblings as well as her son-in-law Leslie G. Lovell and former son-in-law John Steinbach. The family wishes to express heartfelt thanks for the wonderful care she received in her declining years. Theresa Villaneuva, Janice Martinez, Mary Jane Toddy and Kyndal Rychlik as well as David Ward, were more than caregivers, they were her friends and extended family. Honored to serve as pallbearers were her grandchildren, nephews Daryl Hill, Mark Hill and longtime caregiver and friend David Ward. Honorary pallbearers were her many nephews and great nephews. Thekla Anna Hill Kollatschny ended her journey on earth on April 4, 2012, at her home in Bellville, having celebrated her ninety third birthday four days earlier with family and friends. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John Lutheran Church Cat Spring Memorial Fund or Scholarship Fund, 480 Ross Street, Cat Spring, Texas 78933 or to the Bellville Hospital Auxiliary, P.O. Box 977, Bellville, Texas 77418.