Esther JoAnn Schlesselman, 88, of Cole Camp, Missouri, passed away peacefully on the evening of December 14, 2024, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She was cherished by many, and her faith was the guiding light throughout her life, touching the lives of all those she met.
Born on January 19, 1936, in Sedalia, Missouri, to Adolph and Gesina Eckhoff Kaiser. She was baptized on January 26, 1936, and confirmed on April 24th, 1949, both at St. John's Lutheran Church at Cheese Creek.
She grew up on a small rural farm just outside of Cole Camp and attended Prairie Flower School in her early years later graduating from Cole Camp High School in 1951, where she was honored to be chosen as May Queen in her senior year. After high school she worked as a nanny and held a job at the Sedalia Democrat.
On September 8, 1957, she married Alvin Pritzel at St. John's Lutheran Church in Cole Camp, Missouri. Together, they were blessed with three daughters: Roxy, Wanda, and Alicia "Sam". Alvin preceded her in death on March 21, 1983.
Esther was a devoted mother to her three daughters and worked from home during their younger years. She later worked as a seamstress at Smithson Quilting in Stover, creating special order tablecloths and drapes for many years until her retirement in the mid-1990s. In her retirement, she found joy in volunteering at the Cole Camp Senior Center and the Cole Camp Museum. You could also often find her at the German Table helping peel and cut potatoes for her famous German potato salad.
Esther was a dedicated member of Mt. Hulda Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and served as an officer in her LWML organization. She was also a member of the Cole Camp German Club and The German Choir.
On November 26, 1989, Esther married Huth Schlesselman at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Cole Camp gaining two stepsons, Mike and Cary Schlesselman. Huth preceded her in death on September 24, 2023.
Esther was known by her family for her quiet but strong faith, work ethic, and great love for them, demonstrated by many hours of cooking (especially homemade bread, dill pickles, and peanut clusters at Christmas), sewing, and crocheting. If anyone asks how she wanted to be remembered, it would be as "a child of God and raising my daughters to know the same."
Esther was preceded in death by her husband Alvin Pritzel, her parents Adolph and Gesina Kaiser, two sisters, Evelyn Kabler and Darlene Kaiser, two brothers who passed in infancy, husband Huth Schlesselman, and great-granddaughter, Claire Ipsen.
She is survived by her daughters, Roxy Viebrock and Don of Cole Camp, Wanda Pritzel of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Alicia "Sam" Cole and Greg of Cole Camp, and her sister, Leona Steffens of Cole Camp. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Amy Ipsen and Brian of Joplin, Kelly Viebrock and Angela of Stover, Brandon Cole and Kristine of Windsor, and Bethany Beesley and Charlie of Meta, and ten great-grandchildren: Grace, Joe, and Toby Ipsen; Khloe and Kelsey Viebrock; Lilli, James, and Cerys Beesley; and Dean and Aleia Cole. Additionally, she is survived by her two stepsons, Mike and Rhonda Schlesselman, and Cary and Carolyn Schlesselman, and their families, as well as many beloved in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Funeral services celebrating God's saving work in Esther's life will be held at Mt. Hulda Lutheran Church of rural Cole Camp at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 21, 2024, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Mt. Hulda Cemetery.
Gifts made in memory and celebration of Esther's life may be made to the Mt. Hulda Perpetual Cemetery Fund, Lutheran Family Service, or Benton County Hospice in care of the Fox Funeral Home of Cole Camp. Online condolences may be left at www.foxfuneralhomecolecampmo.com.
"And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth.' 'Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" -Revelation 14:13
