Pearl LaVerne Kirschke

Pearl LaVerne Kirschke, 84, of La Grange died peacefully in her sleep on Jan. 27, 2014 at Monument Hill Nursing Home.

She was born on June 30, 1929 in Columbus to Lester Dee Dennis and Rosa Pearl (Waldrip) Dennis. She attended

school in Columbus. She married Edgar Wanja of Columbus and they had a daughter, Sandra Kay Wanja in 1947. She later married William H. Kleimann “Bill” of Columbus .on May 10, 1952, with whom she had two children, Brenda Lou and Lester William. After Bill’s death, she married Wilbert Lee (W.L.) Kirschke on Sept. 10, 1982. She held an  assortment of jobs throughout her lifetime. Some of them included being a waitress in her younger years and then assuming a position as an operator at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Unfortunately, she had to terminate

employment at SB when they moved her position to another town. Around this same time, her dad opened up a processing plant in Columbus. She began assisting with duties there, i.e. wrapping meat, answering phone, doing bookwork, etc. The processing plant closed in the early 70’s and her and husband Bill moved to La Grange and ran the Kreuz Market to remain in the meat business. Unfortunately, this was short lived due to state inspections, but they liked La Grange and decided to stay there. She began working as a checker at the Shamrock station and when Walmart

opened their doors she began as a door greeter there. She was also a checker and then was “promoted” to the Sewing Department and that was the laugh of the family, as she could barely sew on a button! But she got the last laugh, because the customers never caught on that she couldn’t sew! People remember, and still tell her family, that she was one of the warmest and friendliest people they ever met. When she married W.L., he became her best friend and kitchen buddy. They baked cakes and made a very special barbecue sauce (from her mom’s  secret recipe) and sold them locally. She loved to go gambling and garage sales. She would put the funds from the cakes and sauce in a cookie jar and when the jar was full, she would head to the casino. They also liked having their own garage sales too. She celebrated her 80th birthday at the casino with her family. 3 years ago, signs of dementia were setting in and it became necessary to place her in a nursing home. W.L. was at her side daily and took very good care of her. The family was very

blessed to have him in her life. Vern was the life of the party! She loved everyone. The nurses at the nursing home were entertained daily by her. Her family has so many precious memories that will keep her alive in their hearts forever.

“Vern” is survived by her husband; daughters, Sandra Hengst and husband Don of Flatonia, Brenda Baird and husband 

Eddie of Bryan; son, Lester Kleimann of La Grange; five grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren and nieces and

nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved dog, Hunter, and her brothers and sister- in-laws, Bill Dennis and wife Margeurite and Donald Dennis and wife Helen. Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 31, 2014, at Henneke

Funeral Home in Columbus from 6 to 8 p.m. Services will be at 10 a.m. on Feb. 1, 2014, at the Second Baptist Church in La Grange with the Rev. Ellis Mc- Kenzie officiating. Burial will take place at the Haw Creek Cemetery located in Willow Springs. Pallbearers are the grandchildren, Kristi Hengst of Austin, Stacia Urban of Fayetteville, Kyle Kruppa of Dallas, Brian Kruppa of San Diego, Calif. and Alan Kruppa of Washington, D.C. and the eldest great-grandchilderen, Caitlynn Kruppa of Fort Worth and Landon Urban of Cistern. The honorary pall bearer is her special niece, Peggy (Dennis) Delling of Columbus whom she loved dearly. Memorials may be given to the Second Baptist Church, 1010 N. Von Minden, La

Grange, Texas 78945. Henneke Funeral Home in La Grange was in charge of arrangements