Leanna Sylvia Koemel

Celebration of Leanna Sylvia Haverlah Koemel January 18, 1934 Leanna Sylvia Haverlah Koemel was born on January 18, 1934 at home to Anna Alma Matheaus Haverlah and Lee Henry Haverlah in Three Oaks, Texas. Leanna was given spiritual life through Baptism as a baby at the Poth Lutheran Church and continued with her confirmation at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Jourdanton. Being a woman of God, Leanna was also a teacher, nurse, and musician. Leanna Sylvia Haverlah Koemel is followed in death by her husband of fifty-two years, J Sylvia ohn Ernest Koemel. John had passed away on August 14, 2013. She is survived by her four children and their spouses as well as twelve grandchildren, and one great grandchild. They are listed in order of birth. Daughter : Johnna-Lee Julie Koemel Taylor and Aubry Lane (Lane) Taylor (spouse) Grandchildren: Aubry John (AJ) Taylor(grandson) and Lisa Taylor (spouse), Julie Nicole Taylor, (granddaughter) and Rachel Leanna Taylor (granddaughter) Great Grandchild: Aubry Luke Taylor (great grandson) Son: John Ernest Koemel, Jr. (Butch) and Tina Mooney Koemel (spouse) Grandchildren: Thomas Michael Koemel, (grandson), Nicholas Andrew Koemel, (grandson), and Grace Ellen Koemel (granddaughter) Daughter: Kristen Kay Koemel Dunn and Kevin Michael Dunn (spouse) Grandchildren: Justin Ryan Dunn (grandson), Koren Marie Dunn (granddaughter), and Alexis Mikaylin Dunn (granddaughter) Son: Timothy Mark Koemel (Tim) and Lorin Cinnamon Koemel (spouse) Grandchildren: Canyon Taylor Koemel (deceased grandson infant 1-10-1997), Ridge Kohl Koemel (grandson), Trinity Robbins Koemel (granddaughter), and Crest Matheaus Koemel (grandson) Leanna Sylvia Haverlah Koemel was preceded in death by her brother William Charles Haverlah. She is survived by her nephew, Steve, and sister-in-law, Rose Maria Haverlah. Leanna Sylvia Haverlah Koemel is survived by her brother, Gene Vernon Haverlah and Toni (spouse). She is survived by five children of Gene Haverlah and Lucille Novak. They are listed in order of birth: Vernon (nephew), Douglas (nephew), Kathy (niece), David (nephew), and James (nephew) . She is also survived by their spouses and children. Leanna was preceded in death by her sister-in-law Walieta Koemel Anderson (1992) and her brother-in-law: Roy Anderson. She is survived by their six children. The children are listed in order of birth: Marie (niece), Mary (niece), Vivian (niece), Sharon (niece), Roy Jr. (Buddy), (nephew), and Lilly (niece). She is also survived by their spouses and children. Leanna Sylvia Haverlah Koemel started her school years in Pleasanton, Texas and graduated from the same school district as valedictorian. While in high school, Leanna played the baritone for the band. Her school years were spent living through World War II. Many of her childhood experiences were a part of that time period. Leanna was a living piece of history when she talked about the war rations, victory gardens, and the prejudice attitude of people. Leanna’s family had been in the dairy business, and she recalled many times making fresh butter from the cream that was collected. Later on her father, Lee, became a Mobil Oil distributor and owner of a gas station. Leanna would often talk of her parent’s, Lee and Anna, generosity in helping businesses with payment plans and fueling needs . Her parents always owned cattle, and Leanna was knowledgeable about raising calves, attending to cows, and hauling hay. Leanna attended church at the Jourdanton Lutheran Church. She was a dedicated member. Even after Leanna went to college, she still continued to serve as a Sunday School teacher and active member for the church. She was involved with the choir and ladies ministry. Leanna had always been interested in biology and helping people. Her classmates and teachers recognized her gift of caring for others. She would help tutor, counsel, or assist with a project. After graduation from high school, Leanna attended Texas Lutheran College in Sequin, Texas. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science and continued her education in the nursing field at the University of Texas in Galveston. She became a registered nurse from UT at Galveston. Leanna was thrilled when her granddaughter, Julie Taylor, became a medical student at the University of Texas in Galveston. Julie was walking some of the same halls as she did in her younger days as a student. Leanna had many fond memories of her education at UT in Galveston. She would laugh recalling the time some medical students had a lab experiment which involved taking pills that caused urine to turn blue. Later that day after being in a swimming pool, the students changed the water to a dark blue. Leanna also enjoyed the clam hunting on the beach in Galveston. The students would find the clams, build a fire, and smoke the shells until they opened. She said the clam meat was gritty from sand but delicious. Leanna completed her nursing internship in San Antonio. She moved into an old building which had several rooms that the students used while they were in training. She had a teacher that taught them the importance of always have fresh linens available, using whatever equipment was present, and creating solutions for the problems that would always come up with a patient. The mottos “always be prepared” and “ use your head” were a part of Leanna’s great nursing skills. Leanna developed many friends while in training, and she continued to stay in touch with several during her early career years and even after she had raised a family. Following her graduation as a registered nurse, Leanna started her career as a nurse for the Dow Chemical Company in Lake Jackson, Texas. She would take care of any industrial accident or injury that occurred at the workplace. Leanna remembers dropping her college ring in the sink while washing her hands. She would often say, “My ring is in the basement of the Dow Chemical .” While Leanna lived in Lake Jackson, she enjoyed shopping trips to the downtown Houston area. Leanna continued to go to church at Jourdanton with her parents. She had met Walieta Koemel, John’s sister. They were Sunday school teachers. This church was where she would meet her future husband, John Ernest Koemel. Both John’s parents, Julius John Koemel, and Freda Clara Naumann Koemel and Leanna’s parents, Lee Henry Haverlah and Alma Anna Haverlah knew each other from church. Leanna was working as a nurse at Dow Chemical in Lake Jackson, Texas. Her mother, Anna Alma Haverlah, invited the Koemel’s over for dinner. However, only John was able to attend the dinner and he met Leanna who was visiting her parents. They chatted over dinner, and John asked her out for the next weekend. John proposed at Leanna’s house on a Saturday night and they didn’t tell anyone until Leanna put her hand out on Sunday morning at church. They were married six months later on April 8, 1961. John and Leanna both said they had great conversations, enjoyed listing to music and going to the movies. John always gave Leanna a corsage on their dates. He said Leanna was a woman of God and honest. Leanna also said that once she ran over a skunk and it flatten her tire. John changed the tire even with the skunk smell. She thought that helpfulness was a good quality to have in a person. John and Leanna Koemel moved to George West, Texas to begin their new life together. John farmed and Leanna worked as a nurse at the Beeville hospital emergency room. She would go to work wearing the white hosiery, white shoes, and white cap. Several times she returned home with blood splatters on her uniform and many interesting and dramatic tails of the ER. Later in her career, Leanna worked as a teacher for Bee County College in the Nursing Aid program. She touched the lives of many of the students. She finished her nursing career with being the RN (registered nurse) for the Live Oak Nursing center. John and Leanna attended the St. Paul Lutheran Church in George West, Texas. When their children were young, John and Leanna started to attend Peace Lutheran Church in Beeville, Texas. The church moved after several years and was renamed Faith Lutheran Church in 1977. John and Leanna attended Faith until 2008 when they returned to St. Paul Lutheran Church in George West, Texas. Their children, Johnna, John (Butch), Kristen, and Tim graduated from the George West Independent School District schools. John and Leanna were active in the George West community. Leanna was involved with the church community serving for the ladies committee and missionary assistance. She was involved with the care of the church’s altar and communion set. Leanna was a part of the Texas Extension Club helping with student contests, judging items, and leadership development. She was a leader for 4-H activities. She was active with her children’s school events. Many times she was working the concession stand at the football games, chaperoning school activities, and attending school functions. John and Leanna Koemel continued to live in George West until John recently moved to Woodridge Nursing Home in April, 2012 and Leanna moved to Woodridge Nursing Home in 2011. Leanna had struggled with health issues and surgeries that didn’t improve her condition. Leanna loved nursing. She took care of her patients and was remembered by the families. Leanna enjoyed healing people and offering her medical knowledge. She would be the person to turn to for administering allergy shots or accompanying a friend to the hospital for comfort. Many times, when a death or health crisis happened to a friend, Leanna would offer advice on treatments that could be used or explain medical terms. Her family would describe her life as one that was lived by faith in God. Leanna worshipped our God and knew his grace that was given freely. She sought the Bible for comfort in troubled times. Quiet but at times outspoken, Leanna would always support the person in need or offer nonjudgmental support. Leanna was also known for loving her family, especially when she became a grandparent. She enjoyed the visits of her grandchildren and introduced them to Yathzee, Chicken Foot, dominoes, and Choke Canyon State Park. She liked to travel and see places. Her grandchildren enjoyed camping at Thousand Trails and playing put put golf. Her children remember their mom as someone who raised them to know and love God. She was their defender and nurturer. She was a caretaker and counselor. Leanna Sylvia Haverlah Koemel was born a child of God and died a child of God. May her faith be a witness to all people. Visitation will be Friday, November 8, 2013 from 10am-8pm at Roberson Funeral Home, Three Rivers. Services will be held at: Faith Lutheran Church, 1500 E. FM 351, Beeville, TX 78102 with funeral services at 10:30 am on Saturday, November 9th, 2013. Pastor John Diaz from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in George West, TX will conduct the service. There will be a light reception afterwards prior to leaving for the burial service. Burial site will be at St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery, Jourdanton, TX 78026 at approximately 2pm. Directions - Follow State Highway 97 into Jourdanton, Tx State Highway 97 turns into Oat Street follow it to Willow Street. Turn Right on Willow Street follow Willow to Clamp Street. Turn left on Clamp Street or Hwy 59 to I 37 North to Pleasanton, exit 103. Get on 281 N. to Pleasanton, In Pleasanton turn left on West Oaklawn Street/ State Hwy 97.

Leanna Sylvia Koemel

January 18, 1934 - November 1, 2013