Esther Elizabeth Colwell
May 14, 1917 — January 28, 2003
Esther Elizabeth Colwell, of Eureka, died at the Presbyterian Manor in Emporia on Tuesday, January 28, 2003, at the age of 85.
She was born in Kearny County, Kansas on May 14, 1917, the daughter of Christian and Sophia (Popp) Michel. She was raised in Kearny County and attended rural grade school there. Esther then attended Lakin High School in Lakin, Kansas and graduated with the class of 1936.
On June 12, 1936, she was united in marriage to James “Merton” Colwell in Garden City, Kansas. They made their home in the Bronson and Elsmore area where Merton farmed. In 1951 the family moved to rural Fall River, Kansas and continued to farm. In 1964 they moved to Severy, Kansas and in 1966 to Eureka, Kansas.
On October 25, 1980, Merton preceded her in death. Esther continued to live in Eureka until 1994 when she moved to Burlington, Kansas, then in 1998 she moved to Emporia.
She was a homemaker and a member of the Elsmore United Methodist Church.
Esther is survived by two sons, Sheryl Colwell of Wichita and Larry Colwell of Moundridge, two daughters, Marilyn Snider of Eureka and Deborah Birk of Burlington, nine grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and two step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son, David, four brothers, and one sister.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, February 1, 2003 at the Koup Family Funeral Home in Eureka, with Pastor Alan Hunter of the Jefferson Street Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery.
A memorial has been established in her name to the Eureka Carnegie Library. Contributions may be sent in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 595, Eureka, Kansas 67045.
She was born in Kearny County, Kansas on May 14, 1917, the daughter of Christian and Sophia (Popp) Michel. She was raised in Kearny County and attended rural grade school there. Esther then attended Lakin High School in Lakin, Kansas and graduated with the class of 1936.
On June 12, 1936, she was united in marriage to James “Merton” Colwell in Garden City, Kansas. They made their home in the Bronson and Elsmore area where Merton farmed. In 1951 the family moved to rural Fall River, Kansas and continued to farm. In 1964 they moved to Severy, Kansas and in 1966 to Eureka, Kansas.
On October 25, 1980, Merton preceded her in death. Esther continued to live in Eureka until 1994 when she moved to Burlington, Kansas, then in 1998 she moved to Emporia.
She was a homemaker and a member of the Elsmore United Methodist Church.
Esther is survived by two sons, Sheryl Colwell of Wichita and Larry Colwell of Moundridge, two daughters, Marilyn Snider of Eureka and Deborah Birk of Burlington, nine grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and two step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son, David, four brothers, and one sister.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, February 1, 2003 at the Koup Family Funeral Home in Eureka, with Pastor Alan Hunter of the Jefferson Street Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery.
A memorial has been established in her name to the Eureka Carnegie Library. Contributions may be sent in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 595, Eureka, Kansas 67045.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Esther Elizabeth Colwell, please visit our flower store.