Rachel L. Sterkel

TORRINGTON, WYOMING...........Funeral services for RACHEL L. STERKEL, 91, will be held at 2pm Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at the First Congregational Church with Reverend Matt Gordon officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Rachel died December 23, 2018 at Goshen Healthcare Community. Memorials may be made to the First Congregational Church. Visitation will be Wednesday at the funeral home from 10am to noon and the casket will be closed at the service. Arrangements are by the Colyer Funeral Home and condolences may be sent to www.colyerfuneralhome.com. Rachel was born October 28, 1927 in Longmont, Colorado the daughter of Pete and Elizabeth Schlagel. At an early age she moved from Longmont to Torrington, Wyoming where her family farmed west of the sugar factory. She attended school in Torrington until the eighth grade when her father announced she was the best hired man he had. She was one of the first “females” to haul beets to the sugar factory. While she never learned to ride a bike, she could run the tractors and trucks with ease. On November 25, 1945 she married Raymond “Willie” Sterkel. Together they farmed in the Lingle, Wyoming area, then Douglas, Wyoming and near Huntley, Wyoming. In 1960 they moved to their forever home in Torrington. Rachel began working in the school lunch program . During her forty plus years, she worked at the Lincoln School, the middle school and the high school. As the school lunch coordinator and with the onset of government regulations, she did continuing education classes, receiving many certificates of recognition. Hard to please a family of four at mealtime? Try feeding a team of high school football boys. She cooked for the football camps for over twenty years. She loved to see them “chow down”. Her favorites always got a little extra on their plate. Rachel will always be remembered for her culinary and baking talent. Rachel was a member of the First Congregational Church. The very same church she and her brothers and sisters were confirmed in. She held various offices and was a member of the ladies group, The Friendly Society. Rachel is survived by her son Donald Sterkel of Lake Side, Arizona with his three step-children, twelve grandchildren and one great grandchild. Also surviving is her daughter Connie Packard of Torrington, Wyoming; granddaughter Nicole (Jordan) Cattin and grandchildren Taylor and Cooper of Kenmare, North Dakota. Being the last survivor of the original “Schlagel” family, she is survived by many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Willie; one infant daughter Diane Lydia; brothers Herman (Martha) Schlagel, and Ben Schlagel; sisters Helene (Ruben) Foltz, Pauline (George) Schleining, Rosemary (Henry) Feagler and Darlene (Richard) Bower.

Rachel L. Sterkel

October 28, 1927 - December 23, 2018