Velma E. Kutzbach

Velma Emma (Prinz) Kutzbach, 98, entered into eternal rest on September 4, 2021 at Mitchell County Regional Health in Osage. Funeral services will be held at noon on Saturday, October 2, 2021—Velma’s 99th birthday—at Conway-Markham Funeral Home in Elma. There will be a one-hour visitation prior to the funeral service. Burial will be held at Howard Cemetery in Elma. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be left at www.conway-markhamfh.com. Velma was born on October 2, 1922 and lived in the Howard County area all her life. She was the daughter of Otto and Etha (Matthias) Prinz. She farmed with her husband of 60 years, Wallace, until retiring in Elma in 1974. She was baptized, confirmed and married at St. Paul's Maple Leaf Lutheran Church and later attended St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Elma and Zion Lutheran Church in Alta Vista. Velma enjoyed baking, reading, crossword puzzles, and maintaining a large garden. For many years during retirement Velma transported special needs children to school. She loved polka music and always had a song in her head. Velma lived independently until the last few years of her life, which she spent at Riceville Family Care Center. She is preceded in death by her husband Wallace in 2001 and her son Clifford in 2016. Those left to cherish her memories are her daughter-in-law, Marlys Kutzbach of Elma, daughter, Lynette Thompson of Winfield, KS, daughter Shirley Childs (Mark) of Marietta, GA and son Lowell Kutzbach (Anne) of Valrico, FL, as well as several nieces and nephews. Velma and Wallace had 6 grandchildren: Kevin (Barbie) Thompson, Lisa (Travis) Bartz, Susan (Kelly) Wilson, Travis (Christy) Kutzbach, Claudia (Dean) Kutzbach, and Rachel Childs; 6 great-grandchildren: Arden Thompson, Shelby Wilson, Kristian Holmvig, Ashley Wilson, Bayli Kutzbach, and Hayden Bartz.