Erna Mae Neutzler
 

Memorial for Erna Mae Neutzler

Born on Dec. 16, 1924
Departed on Sep. 7, 2014 and resided in Somerville, TX.
Visitation: Tuesday, Sep. 9, 2014
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Service: Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2014
2:00 pm
Cemetery: Prairie Lea Cemetery

Erna Mae (Broecker) Neutzler, of Somerville, passed away on September 7, 2014 at Burleson County Manor in Caldwell. She was born on December 16, 1924 to Louis and Lorena Broecker in a 3 room house in the community of Cedar Hill (near Mount Hill) in Washington County. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and rarely missed a Sunday in church. She was 89 years and 8 months old when she passed with the goal, still in mind, to live to 90.
Erna Mae's childhood was spent on various country farms in Washington County, although when she was in the 3rd grade her family moved to a farm a little North of Lyons, Texas. Coincidentally, a lady named Nannie Rhodes was her 3rd, 4th and 5th grade teacher. She was in a class with Jimmy York, Jimmy Schoppe and L.D. Schoppe. Little did she know, as a small girl, that the Rhodes family would become an important part of her life in Somerville or that those boys from a 3rd grade class would be life time friends.
The Broecker family later moved to Brenham where Erna Mae attended and graduated from Brenham High School in 1943. After graduation, she attended business school in Houston, Texas and then returned to work in Brenham.
After WWII, she met and married Harvey Neutzler on April 27, 1947. They dated for 4 months and were married for 48 years before Harvey passed away in November of 1995. Erna Mae and Harvey had two daughters, Shirley Ann who was born in 1948 and Sharon Ann who was born in 1952. The family moved to Somerville in 1954 when Harvey bought a local barber shop and began a 40 year career as the local barber. Erna Mae worked various jobs and ultimately found her favorite job at the Somerville post office where she later became Post Master. Being Post Master was her passion, as she loved seeing and visiting with everyone who came in for their mail. Retirement was a hard choice for her. Erna Mae loved Somerville and being a part of the community, The Rotary, the Ladies American Legion Auxiliary and the PTA.
Harvey and Erna Mae took an active role in the lives of their four grandchildren, Brad, Britni, Cody and Cole. They especially enjoyed baseball games and sporting events. They enjoyed dancing trips with their dear friends and camping trips with their family and extended family. They were both so proud of Lake Somerville and being a part of the community who saw it being built. They enjoyed many afternoons of boating and riding across the dam just one more time.
After the death of Harvey in 1995, Erna Mae remained active in the community. Her favorite activities were her quilting club, the domino group, church, and getting her hair done by "Rosie". Erna Mae was an excellent seamstress. She made her daughters clothes while they were growing up as well as their wedding dresses. Later, she started making quilts and enjoyed each quilt and its story. Those quilts are now her legacy.
Erna Mae will be remembered as a strong and independent woman. She overcame cancer three times and was able to live in her Somerville home until 2010. After the death of Harvey, she attended First Lutheran Church in Somerville and later joined Elizabeth Lutheran in Caldwell where she attended church with Sharon's family.
Erna is survived by her two daughters, Shirley Lissner and Sharon Novosad, One son-in-law Ben Novosad, four grandchildren, Brad Novosad and his wife Mandy, Cody Novosad and his wife Tammie, Britni Lissner Smith-Wheeler and her husband, Jason and Cole Lissner and his wife, Hannah. She was blessed with 9 great grandchildren: Rachel and Luke Novosad, Holdyn, Hadleigh and Hudson Novosad, Jaxon Smith, Nolan and Dylan Wheeler and Easton Lissner. Also, step granddaughters, Andi Lissner Hawthorne and Shelli Lissner Weedon and her husband Mark and 7 more great grandchildren who were all very special to her.
She is also survived by a special niece and nephew, both of who moved in with Erna Mae and Harvey as soon as they graduated from high school in Houston, Cathy Bender Marek and Doug Bender. There is one surviving brother-in- law, Elmer Neutzler and many nieces and nephews from the Neutzler family.
Preceding Erna Mae in death were her parents, her sister Ora Nell Bender, her son-in-law Bob Lissner and her husband Harvey.
Erna Mae lived a very full and busy life. She was loved by many and will be missed by family and friends. May she rest in peace.
Visitation will be Tuesday, September 9th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Services will be held on Wednesday, September 10th at 2:00 PM from Strickland Funeral Home in Somerville.
Family and friends are invited to visit with the family at Mantey's Restaurant immediately following the service. A private family burial will be held at Prairie Lee Cemetery in Brenham immediately following the visitation. Memorial contributions may be directed to: Brazos Valley Hospice, 302 E Blue Bell Road, Brenham, Texas 77833.
Pallbearers are: Aaron Flencher, Cory Flencher, Ryan Flencher, Josh Flencher, Joey Brock, Scott York, Ken Tharp, Alex Smith and John David Williams.
Honorary Pallbearers are: Tommy Cummings, Mike Rhodes, Frank Brock, Scooter Hill, Bubba Neinast, Bobby Neinast, Ben Flencher and Ricky Mantey.

This Memorial Obituary provided by Strickland Funeral Home - Somerville