Citzler

Verlene Annette (Tiemann) Citzler died April 29, 2020, at age 92 years and 21 days.

She was born in La Grange on April 8, 1928 (Easter Sunday) to Elsie Irene (Wildner) and Guy Fritz Tiemann. Baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at St. Paul Lutheran Church, she remained a member there her entire life, serving as a Sunday School teacher/superintendent and parish ed director, singing in the church choir under the directorship of Leslie Blume, and serving on the Altar Guild, the Mission Committee, and on Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Church Council.

Her early years were spent on the family farm near Monument Hill, and she learned to know the surrounding area through her solo (and unauthorized) exploration of the nearby park and neighborhood farms, activity admittedly undertaken to avoid her dreaded farm chores. Trained in target shooting by her father, she won local titles for marksmanship, using this skill later in deer hunting, which she enjoyed for decades.

After graduation from La Grange High School, she was determined to pursue further education, and her parents agreed to year-long training at the Gradwohl School of Laboratory Technology in St. Louis, Mo. Afterwards, Verlene returned to Texas for her internship at the hospital in Amarillo before taking employment initially in Schulenburg, and then later in La Grange, where she worked for private physicians (over the years, in succession or partnership, Drs. Boelsche, Zatopek, Smith, Makinson, Garrett, and McBroom) and for Fayette Memorial Hospital (in its two separate incarnations on Guadalupe/Pearl/Jackson streets), from which she finally retired in 1993.

Verlene married Atlan Max Citzler (Sr.) on Sept. 7, 1947, a day so hot that the wedding candles in church melted and turned over before they could be lit for the ceremony: she told the ushers to “just carry them out” instead of lighting them. They spent their 68 years of marriage (Atlan died in 2015) in La Grange, but they enjoyed lots of travel over the years, including trips to Africa, Alaska, British Columbia, Quebec, Germany, and all over the contiguous United States, usually associated with Army reserve summer camps or professional meetings for one of them or daughter, Annette.

In addition to church activities and deer hunting, Verlene enjoyed team bowling at the American Legion Hall lanes, and she also spent many hours in needlepoint and crocheting. Until her arthritis no longer allowed it, she hand-stitched beautifully embroidered baby quilts for nine of her eleven great-grandchildren. She devoted many volunteer hours to A.M.E.N. food pantry, to the local American Red Cross, and to both the Cedar Cemetery Association and the La Grange Ladies’ Cemetery Association, before the City of La Grange took over responsibility for the latter. She and Atlan also enjoyed playing dominoes at regular evening gatherings with close friends, the Campbell, Moellenberndt, Friemel, Zingelmann, and Frerichs Families. In her later years, she rejoiced in her life at the Citzler Homestead, where she and Atlan had moved in 1996, because she so loved to watch the birds and other wildlife.

Preceded in death by her spouse, parents, and brother Arland.

Verlene is survived by her three children: daughter, Annette; sons, Atlan Jr. (Jeanette) and Stephen “Chip” (Sheron), all of La Grange; her five grandchildren: Amy McCord (Justin) of La Grange; Edward Citzler (Robin) of Granbury; Byron Citzler (Sarah) of Hutto; Kyle Citzler (Lacey) of El Campo; and Kelsie Hrbacek (Stetson) of La Grange; and eleven greatgrandchildren; also one sisterin-law, Genelda Stahmer of La Grange, as well as a first cousin, Aldine Bernshausen of Greens Creek/Waldeck area; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held on Friday, May 1, 2020 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home & Cremations.

In lieu of a public service, the immediate family will gather for a private graveside service, hoping to hold a celebration of her life for more of her family, friends, and acquaintances at a later date.

Her daughter and sons also express gratitude to her faithful caregivers at the end: Janise Wolridge of Giddings, Fallon Shelby of Walhalla area, Jada Walker of La Grange, and Kimberly “Danielle” Homer of Columbus, as well as to the staff of Brazos Valley Hospice for their support and assistance with care during her final three weeks.

In lieu of other remembrances, the family suggests memorial contributions to A.M.E.N. Food Pantry, 805 Mode Lane, La Grange, 78945; or to the Citzler Endowment at Lutherhill Ministries; P. O. Box 99, La Grange, 78945.

Family and friends can view and sign the guestbook online at www.lagrangefunerals.com. Funeral arrangements have

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home & Cremations in La Grange.