Lela Mae Pietzsch

Lela Mae Pietzsch, 95, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Focused Care Nursing Home in Hamilton surrounded by her loving family.

Lela Mae was born Sept. 12, 1926, in Gentrys Mill in Hamilton County, one of two children of Grady and Ermmer “Jewell” (Lanmon) Bryson.

She graduated from high school in 1944 and attended two years of post-graduate classes in Fort Worth, where she received her Associates Degree.

Lela Mae was united in marriage to Wilbert Alfred Pietzsch on April 14, 1946, in Hamilton, and they were blessed with three children, Wilbert Thomas (Tom), Timothy (Tim) Eugene and Cynthia (Cindi) Ella. They moved from Texas to Independence, Missouri, when Wilbert was transferred there with his employer Allis Chalmers.

They raised their children in Independence, and when Wilbert retired they moved back to her family’s homestead in Hamilton.

Lela Mae was a gracious, loving wife, mother and grandmother and a homemaker most of her life. She enjoyed gardening and canned many food items over the years to provide for her family. She especially liked making jams and jellies and loved flowers and tending to them in her yard. She excelled at cross-stitching and created many personalized projects for family members, some at their request and some she thought they’d enjoy. She took pride in her work and also mentored many others in her talents, including canning, sewing, baking and cooking.

Throughout her entire life she was faithful to her Lord and Savior. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Hamilton and attended regularly until recent years. When she wasn’t able to attend, she followed church worship services via television and read her Bible daily.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Wilbert, brother Thomas Bryson, grandson John Pietzsch and great-grandson Mason Watkins.

Survivors include her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jerome and Alice Pietzsch of Hamilton; sons Tom (Cheryl) of Leavenworth, Kansas, and Tim (Elizabeth) of Hamilton; daughter Cindi (Mark) Conklin of Weatherford; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and friends.

The family suggests donations to St. John Lutheran Church, Hamilton, TX.