Irma Margaret (Vogel) Koelzer

Irma Margaret Koelzer, age 81, died Friday, March 22, 2024, at Wesley House Assisted Living in Gainesville, Texas. Irma was born on April 25, 1942, in Muenster to Lawrence and Philomena (Stoffels) Vogel. She lived with her parents, three brothers (David, Larry, and Gene), and her three sisters (Flo, Shirley, and Karla) on the family farm southwest of Muenster. At the family farm, Irma milked cows, raised chickens, and helped with the family garden. Although Irma worked hard on the farm, she and her siblings also had fun and that fun would often get them into mischievous trouble. One day at the farm, Irma and her sister were chasing their younger brother. He ducked under the barbed wire fence, but Irma didn’t see the wire in time to duck. She and her siblings would talk of that day many years later, and Irma still had the scar on her neck to prove it. Irma attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and graduated in 1960 with three of her cousins: Celine Bartel, Anne Stoffels, and Bob Vogel. Irma married Ivan Koelzer on October 29, 1966 and lived on Ash Street until the 1980s when they moved to their house south of town. She worked at Ben Franklin, as a loyal employee, which is now Ace Hardware, in Muenster for a number of years.at the store, she helped many young couples create their wedding registries, as well as stocked inventory, cut fabric, cleaned the store, and assisted customers. After working at the store, Irma babysat her friends’ children. Irma’s favorite hobby was gardening and keeping her yard immaculate. Often, she was found outside watering her garden or getting those weeds away from her plants, and when she was not outside, she was working inside her house, keeping a clean house and embroidering. Her needle work on kitchen towels, pillowcases, quilts, wall hangings, and table runners were perfectly made. She also loved making homemade items to give to her family and friends’. Many people over the years received Irma’s homemade bread, applesauce cake, divinity, and German chocolate cake. Irma (Vogel) Koelzer was a devoted Catholic, hard worker, and dedicated wife. She will be missed dearly by her friends and family. Irma is survived by her sister, Florentine Vogel-Broussard (Jimmy), sister, Shirley Tischler (Marvin), brother, Larry Vogel (Kathy), sister-in-law, Linda Lubbers Vogel, sister-in-law, Carol Vogel, and sister-in-law Beatrice Koelzer. Preceding Irma in death were her husband Ivan, parents Lawrence and Philomena Vogel, brothers David and Gene Vogel, sister Karla Cunningham, sister-in-law Celine Dittfurth, and brothers-in-law John Cunningham, Earl Koelzer, and Dick Dittfurth. Mass of Christian Burial be held at 11:30 AM on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Burial to follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Rosary will be held before the service, at 11:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Pallbearers will be Melvin Luke, Jim ‘Smoke’ Koelzer, Scott Vogel, Rodney Vogel, Danny Zwinggi, and Kevin Fuhrmann.

Irma Margaret (Vogel) Koelzer

April 25, 1942 - March 22, 2024