Loretta Stramel Obituary

Memorial Mass for longtime area resident, Loretta Marie Stramel, will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14 at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Reverend Pat Valdez will officiate. Inurnment will take place at Summit Ridge Cemetery at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15.

Rosary services have been scheduled for Thursday evening at 6 p.m. at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church.

Loretta was born Sept. 30, 1928 in Cheyenne Wells, Colo., the daughter of George H. and Mary C. (Holdforth) Baalman. She passed away on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012 at Vista Grande Inn at the age of 83.

Loretta attended Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan. She then married Eugene Stramel in Grinnell, Kan. on May 31, 1949. Loretta was very true to her Catholic faith. She was a member of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Cortez and she belonged to Daughters of Isabella in Grinnell, Kan. for 65 years. Loretta spent many years teaching and giving back to children through her leadership in Cub Scouts and Girls Scouts. In her free time, Loretta enjoyed a large variety of crafts. Knitting, crocheting, embroidery, painting, quilting and ceramics were some activities she took pride in completing. Loretta spent the last couple years of her life at Madison House. The staff and residents there brought her life much joy.

Surviving Loretta are her children, Mary Ann Dew and husband Maurice of Fort Worth, Texas, Phillip Stramel and wife Trudy of Hayward, Calif., Denise Stramel and Keith Buderus of Pinewood Springs, Colo., John Stramel and wife Stacy of Cortez, Rita Stramel of Cortez, and Walter Stramel and wife Christine of Cortez. Loretta also leaves behind her grandchildren, Kevin Stramel and wife Annette of Saugerties, N.Y., Brian Stramel and wife Rachel of Cornelius, Ore., Andrew Stramel of Studio City, Calif., Jay Stramel of Broomfield, Colo., Eric Stramel of Cortez, Erik Buderus and wife Mandy of Hastings, Neb., and Lyndsey Buderus of Denver; and her great-grandchildren, Nicholas Stramel of Saugerties, Grace, Rebekah and Samuel Stramel of Cornelius, and Manon Buderus of Hastings.

Loretta was preceded in death by her parents; by her beloved husband, Eugene Stramel in August of 2010; and by her sister, Delores Fortin.

Memorial contributions may be made in Loretta's name to St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church.

Services are under the direction of Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.