Verlien Kolwes

Verlien Kolwes, 84, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2018 at Oak Haven Assisted Living in Industry, Texas. Verlien (Hegemeyer) Kolwes was born on March 10, 1933 to William and Elda (Peschel) Hegemeyer in the Star Hill Community. She was baptized on May 14, 1933 at St. John Lutheran Church in New Ulm, Texas and was confirmed at that same church. She attended Henkhaus and Industry Schools and graduated from Bellville High School in 1950. On August 5, 1951, she married Kermit Kolwes at Welcome Lutheran Church by the Rev. Walter Wolf. They enjoyed 66 years together living in the Bleiblerville Community. After marriage, Verlien went to work at Cecil Peschel’s Dry Cleaning in Bellville and then Clarke’s Pharmacy in Bellville. Upon arrival of her children, she became a homemaker until her children entered grade school. She then went to work at West End Elementary School in Industry as a teacher’s aide and later as the principal’s secretary. She worked there for 22 years, retiring in 1990. She also worked part time for many years with Herbert’s Catering of Bleiblerville. A member of Welcome Luther Church, she was very involved having served on the Church Council and was active with the Women of the Church, the Naomi Circle, the Alter Guild, and as a leader of the Luther League. She also served on various committees and taught Sunday School, Junior Lutherans and Vacation Bible School. In the community, she was a member of the TEEA (Home Demonstration) Club for 65 years and was a charter member of the West End Lioness Club having held various offices and received the Lioness of the Year award. She was also a member of the Bleiblerville VFD and the Aggie Moms. In her early life, she enjoyed gardening, sewing, cooking, canning, crafts, dancing and beautiful flowers. She was an excellent seamstress having sewn clothes for many people in the area. In her later years, she enjoyed the company of her pet dog “Spotty” and attending her grandchildren’s events. Her love and caring will be deeply missed by her husband, Kermit, her son and daughter in law Tommy and Rebecca Kolwes of Bellville, her son Darrell Kolwes of Brenham, her grandchildren Miranda Kolwes and Jacob Kolwes of Bellville, her sister Ida Mae Reddick of New Ulm and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Verlien was preceded in death by her parents, parents in law Reinhardt and Ena Kolwes, and her brother in law, C.A. Reddick.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Welcome Lutheran Church Building Fund 13636 FM 109 Brenham, Texas 77833, Bleiblerville Fire Department 3912 FM 2502, Bleiblerville, Texas 78931, , Hospice Brazos Valley or the Alzheimer’s Association.