Edith S. Wasserman

Edith Sophie Charlotte Wasserman was born October 31, 1922 on a farm near Ludell, Rawlins County, Kansas to Herman and Mary Hoffbauer Holste. She was born the seventh of 11 children. Edith departed this life at the Gove County Medical Center in Quinter, Kansas February 16, 2013 at the age of 90. Edith was baptized November 12, 1922 at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ludell. She attended Ludell Parochial School, and was confirmed into the Lutheran faith on April 5, 1936 at Immanuel. She graduated from Atwood High School with the class of 1940 and earned her teaching certificate from Fort Hays State College in 1946. She taught in the Ludell Public School and Pleasant Lawn School, both in Rawlins County, and later at Parnell School in Sheridan County. Edith married Gilbert Wasserman on June 23, 1949 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ludell. They made their home on the Wasserman family farm in Parnell Twp., Sheridan County, Kansas their entire married life, farming and raising livestock. Here they also raised three daughters, Susan, Kathy and Ellen, and later joyfully welcomed grandchildren into their lives. Edith was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hoxie, where she enjoyed teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and catechism classes. She was a member of Parnell Progressive Extension Homemakers Unit until it was disbanded in recent years. She served as clothing superintendent at the Sheridan County Fair for many years and was a community and project leader of the Hi-Plains 4-H Club. She was known as an excellent seamstress and baker, and especially enjoyed sharing the products of her hands. Her vegetable and flower gardens flourished under her capable nurturing. Edith remained on the family farm after Gilbert’s death in April 1989. In 2006 she left the farm for an apartment in Hoxie. She resided with her daughter Kathy on their farm near Dresden for several years before moving to Sheridan County Long Term Care in July 2012. Her residency was there at the time of her death. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Gilbert; four brothers, John, Clifton, Gerhard and Arthur; two sisters, Laurine Holste and Dorothy Lewis; four brothers-in-law, Jack Lewis, Oscar Hesterberg, Herman Niermeier and Loyal Packer; five sisters-in-law, Velma, Irene, Lorna and Doris Holste, and Evelyn Packer. Survivors include daughters Susan Ruda and husband Don, Ness City, Kathy Launchbaugh and husband Steve, Dresden, and Ellen Schmeder and husband Jeff, Beggs, OK; grandsons, G.G. Launchbaugh, Hoxie, Daniel Ruda and wife Danielle, Topeka, Karl Launchbaugh, Glenvil, NE, Shelby Hinds, Park Hill OK, Jonathan Ruda, Camdenton, MO, and Logan Schmeder, Beggs, OK.; granddaughters Danea Ruda Cramer and husband Chad, Wichita, Maria Ruda Kane and husband Tyson, Salina, and Macy Schmeder, Beggs, OK; great-granddaughters, Ainsley and Ellyson Cramer, Wichita; great-grandson, Tristan Kane, Salina; sister Mary Ann Oelke and husband Paul, Hoxie; brothers, Herb Holste, Ludell, Herman Holste and wife Barbara, Lansing, MI, Bob Holste and wife Betty, Evansville, IN; sisters-in-law Lucille Hesterberg and Edna Niermeier, both of Hoxie; and many other relatives and friends who will cherish her memory.