Irene Niekamp, 95, of Seneca passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2019 at Crestview Nursing & Residential Living, where she had been a resident since 2009.

She was born on August 8, 1923, on a farm north of Seneca, to Allie A. and Frances E. Luckeroth Stallbaumer. She grew up in the St. Benedict Community attended St. Mary’s Grade School at St. Benedict and Sts. Peter & Paul High School, graduating in 1941.

On May 5, 1943, she married Elmer H. Niekamp at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. The couple farmed for four years at Baileyville and four years at Sabetha before moving to the St. Benedict community where they farmed and had stock for 38 years and a dairy for 21 years. In 1989, they retired and moved to Seneca. After celebrating 56 years of marriage, Elmer passed away on March 18, 2000.

Irene was a homemaker and a helpful farmwife—driving a grain truck as well as the tractor doing field work. She worked part time in the Register of Deeds Office from 1972-1980. She planted a large garden every year and enjoyed her flowers. She loved to quilt and crochet; she made many quilts that her and her husband, Elmer, quilted together.

She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and St Ann’s Altar Society. She was the Democratic Committee Woman and Supervising Judge for 12 years.   She belonged to the Richmond Township Election Board for 35 years and the Hospital Guild Card Club for many years.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Diane F. Haverkamp on September 14, 1998; a great-granddaughter, Jessica Joane Koelzer on September 10, 1997; and brothers, Eugene Stallbaumer on March 13, 2007, Mark Stallbaumer on June 4, 2008 and Gilbert Stallbaumer on July 13, 2009.

She is survived by three daughters, Mary Alice (Stanley) Schmitz of Seneca, Carolyn (Gene) Strathman of Baileyville and Ellen (Kenny) Sudbeck of Seneca; a sister, Dorothy Heiman of Seneca; twelve grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.

Rosaries will be prayed on Tuesday, April 16^th at 1 & 7 PM at Lauer Funeral Home. Mass of Christian will be at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Cemetery and/or St. Mary’s Catholic Church and/or Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.