Teckla Hammerschmidt, 92, of Russell, died on Monday, August 2, 2010 at Via Christi-St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas.

Teckla was born on August 21, 1917 in Victoria, Kansas, the daughter of Frank C. and Agnes (Dinkel) Sander.  She grew up and attended public schools in Victoria and lived all her life in the Victoria and Russell areas.  She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Herman Joseph Hammerschmidt on June 1, 1937 in Victoria.  From this union Teckla and Herman were blessed with three sons Herman, Robert and  Marion.  They made Russell their home and Teckla took on the full time job as mother and homemaker to her growing family.  She was strong in her faith and was a longtime member of St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell.  She served on the church groups Daughters of Isabella and Russell Council of Catholic Women.  Teckla enjoyed sewing, cooking, tending her house plants and most of all taking care of her husband, children and many grandchildren.  Her family remembers fondly how Teckla was a wonderful listener and the model homemaker, making sure to tend to all her family’s needs while also managing the busy home front.  She will be remembered by her family and friends as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend.

Surviving family include her husband Herman of the home, 2 sons Herman F. Hammerschmidt and wife Rosalee of Russell and Marion L. Hammerschmidt and wife Rose of Great Bend; 2 brothers Leo F. Sander and wife Mary Dean of Wichita and Gilbert F. Sander and wife Kathleen of Great Bend, sister Agnes Mae Schrant of Hays, 5 grandchildren Shelby, Jacquelyn, Stephen, Marion Jr. and Christopher; 6 great grandchildren Mariah, Kaitlyn, Miranda, Koal, Marion III and Alexandria. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, son Robert D. Hammerschmidt, brothers Edwin and Donald Sander and sisters Imelda Sander and Isabel Hart.

A Celebration of the Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 A.M. Friday, August 6, 2010 at St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church of Russell with Father Charles Steier officiating.  Interment will follow at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Russell.  A Vigil will be held Thursday evening at 7 P.M. at St. Mary’s Queen of Angels Catholic Church.  Visitation will be from 9 AM to 5 PM Thursday at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell.  A memorial has been established with St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  .  Condolences may be sent via email by going to www.pvpmortuary.com.  Contributions and condolences may be sent in care of Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary who is in charge of these arrangements.