Evelyn F. Strecker
Evelyn Frances Strecker was born March 9, 1915, at the family homestead near Lost Springs. She was the daughter of Alois and Frances “Frannie” (Benda) Pospisil.
She grew to adulthood, along with her siblings: Helen, Irene, Emil, Estella, Victoria, and Lorena. She attended Sunnyside Grade School and Lost Springs High School, where she graduated with the class of 1933. She later completed her studies at American Business College in Wichita.
She would then work as a secretary for the Federal Bank Office, as a private secretary for Commander Whitehead, and as a private secretary for Mr. Alford of Long Bell Lumber Company. Later she would work as a secretary at various employers throughout the years.
She was united in marriage to Charles “Melvin” Strecker on Sept. 27, 1942. Their family would grow to include three sons: Douglas, Lowell “Tom,” and Clark.
Evelyn’s life was defined by giving and doing. She was very active in the Lost Springs American Legion Auxiliary, where she served in many offices, including president for nearly the past 40 years. She was also active at the district level, serving as the 1972 president of the Kansas 4th District American Legion Auxiliary.
She was also active in the Lost Springs United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school class for more than 20 years and served as the nominating chairman for the United Methodist Southwest Conference of Kansas.
She served as the director of the Marion County Historical Society for numerous years, was the coordinator for the north Marion County senior bus for nearly 20 years, helped with commodity distribution at the Ramona Senior Center, where she served as secretary-treasurer for eight years, was active with the Lost Springs Alumni, and was the Lost Springs correspondent for the Marion County Record for nearly half a half-century!
She was a farm wife, helping Melvin with the farm and livestock. They raised Black Angus cattle for many years. She always kept a big garden, a nice home, and tended to her many flowerbeds.
She loved her family as it grew to include grandchildren and their families. With her family’s assistance, she was able to stay on the farm until the last few years of her life, when her failing health warranted nursing home care.
Evelyn passed peacefully away on Oct. 27, 2013, at St. Luke Living Center in Marion, surrounded by the love of her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin, in 2000; and siblings: Helen Schwartzman, Irene Krch, and Emil Pospisil.
She is survived by her sons: Douglas and wife, Marsha, of Hesston, Tom and wife, Carla, of San Antonio, Texas, and Clark of Lost Springs; and their families, which include Evelyn’s pride and joy of 8 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and 7 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters: Estella Kohler and husband, Max, of Silver Springs, Md., Victoria Zell of Shelby, Mont., and Lorena Pospisil of Libuse, La.