Velma Louise Augusta Kirchoff Marek

Velma Louise Augusta Kirchoff Marek, known to many as “Dutch,” 101, passed away on Friday, June 19, 2020. She was born the oldest daughter of Oscar and Alma Komoll Kirchoff in Cost, Texas, Gonzales County, on Feb. 21, 1919. She was baptized at Monthalia Christ Lutheran Church on June 29, 1919, and was confirmed in 1933 at Christ Lutheran Church by the Rev. W. Wolff.

She married Jim Felix Marek on Sept. 24, 1940, at Christ Lutheran Church in Monthalia. She and her husband lived on a ranch doing farming for the first 17 years of married life. To them was born two sons, Freddie Ray and Jim Robert. Later they built a new home on Kelly Loop where she raised chickens for Holly Farms for 50 years and Jim was employed at Booth & Lewis Hardware.

Velma joined First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gonzales in 1945 after they merged with Monthalia Christ Lutheran Church. Velma became active in church work where she was the women’s work chairman and served in various other offices. She taught Sunday school, vacation bible school, and taught on Saturday’s at Gonzales Warm Springs Hospital. She served on many church boards and liked to keep and write history of First Lutheran Church and Christ Lutheran Church in Monthalia. She also kept all scrapbook materials and took lots of pictures to keep as a remembrance of events that happened in the church. She was the memorial fund chairman for about 35 years at First Lutheran and secretary-treasurer of Monthalia Lutheran Cemetery Association for 34 years.

She was kind to all people, visited and tried to help everyone, and seldom said no when asked to do anything. Quilting was a much-loved hobby of hers, and during her lifetime she made over 100 quilts, several of which were donated and auctioned off at First Lutheran Church. She also enjoyed working on World Relief quilts with the ladies of the church. She had many friends who will miss her dearly.

Velma was proceeded in death by her parents Oscar and Alma Kirchoff, her husband Jim F. Marek, both sons Jim R. Marek and Freddie Marek, and her brother Melvin Kirchoff and wife Hazel Kirchoff.

She is survived by daughter-in-law Carla Marek of Gonzales; granddaughter Denise Keith and husband Steve Keith, of Forestburg, Texas; great-grandsons Jase Keith and Blake Keith, also of Forestburg; and brother Gilbert Kirchoff and wife Carol Burke of Venice, Fla.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, June 23, from 5-7 p.m. at Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2020, in the Monthalia Lutheran Cemetery with Pastor Ildiko Rigney officiating.

Pallbearers are Steve Keith, William Komoll, Walter Ray Marek, Clay Marek, Elgin Heinemeyer, and Kevin Oakes. Honorary pallbearers are Jase and Blake Keith. Memorials may be made to the First Lutheran Church.

Friends may leave their condolences and share their fond memories of Velma “Dutch” Marek with the family by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com where a recording of the graveside service will also be posted on the Seydler-Hill Funeral Home website. Due to current CDC and state mandates, protective measures regarding social distancing, limited attendance capacity, and use of personal protective masks will be required for the visitation, and the graveside service. Those remotely symptomatic of COVID-19 are politely asked not to attend. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.