Gertrude Henrietta “Gertie” Steinlage, 81, of Kelly, Kansas died on Monday, November 10, 2014, at Crestview Nursing and Residential in Seneca.

Gertie was born on February 20, 1933 to Joseph A. and Anna E. Steinlage Bokern, on the Bokern family homestead west of Kelly. She graduated from Kelly High School in 1951, Salutatorian of her class. After high school she was employed as a Secretary at the Seneca Hospital.

On August 24, 1954, she married Lambert H. Steinlage at St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Kelly. Lambert was drafted into the US Army on March 8, 1955 and was honorably discharged on July 25, 1956 after being diagnosed with diabetes. During their time in the Army they made many lifelong friendships. The couple returned to the Steinlage homestead; where they operated a Grade A dairy, raised livestock and farmed. The couple celebrated 35 years of marriage before Lambert’s death on November 14, 1989.

Gertie worked at Bob’s Sirloin Room in Seneca for over 20 years. She loved to fill her time attending her children’s sports and school activities. She loved family and enjoyed opening her doors to help others. She served as an officer and played an instrumental role in the early years of the Kelly Baseball Association. In the years after her husband’s death, she opened her house as a bed and breakfast for hunters.

She was a member of St. Bede’s Catholic Church, St. Bede’s Altar Society. Lambert and Gertie served as CCD teachers and Pre-Cana Marriage Instructors for the Archdiocese for years. She was a member and President of the Nemaha Valley School Board, and she was a longtime member of the Kelly Twilighters. Gertie enjoyed working outdoors in her yard and flower garden, cooking and baking, dancing, playing cards, and Scrabble (where she seldom lost!).

She is survived by one daughter, Dr. Susan (Dwight) Keller of Mandan, North Dakota; five sons Craig (Theresa) of Kelly, Chris (Terri) of Overland Park, Kansas, Curt (Leslie) of Buford, Georgia, Brad (Maggie) of Shawnee, Kansas, and Joe (Ashley) of Cary, North Carolina; sisters, Eleanor Skoch of Seneca, Leona Luebbe of Hendersonville, North Carolina, Peggy Laverentz of Georgetown, TX and Mildred Bokern of Mesa, Arizona; a brother, Lambert Bokern of Seattle, Washington; 18 grandchildren; and a special friend, Frank Ptacek.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her father on April 5, 1970; her mother on January 16, 1993; sisters, Erma Robke on April 18, 1996 and Angela Bokern on October 19, 1999.

Rosaries will be at Lauer Funeral Home on Thursday, November 13th at 2 & 7 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, November 14th at 10 AM at St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Kelly. Burial will be in St. Bede’s Cemetery.

Memorials may be left in Gertie’s memory to St. Bede’s Cemetery, Breast Cancer Foundation andor the American Diabetes Association.