Velda McLaughlin Stahlecker
Velda Jeanne Sieh was born on October 1, 1930, on the family farm eight miles west of Naper, Nebraska to Fred “Fritz” H. and Hertha Christina (Mogck) Sieh. She passed away at Aksarben Senior Living in Omaha, Nebraska on October 19, 2018, at age 88 years 18 days after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Velda was raised on the family farms near Naper and graduated from Naper High School in 1948. Velda was united in marriage to James “Jim” Clifford McLaughlin on April 24, 1948, in Burke, South Dakota. Except for a short stay in Los Angeles in 1950-51, Jim and Velda lived in Naper or the nearby area until September 1969, when they moved to Northwest Arkansas. All five of their children were born in the Burke, South Dakota hospital while they lived in Naper; Stanley (1948), Sharon (1956), Edith (1958), Michael “Mickey” (1961), and Leah (1968). Sharon was stillborn, Mickey died in the Burke Hospital on November 2, 1965, and Jim passed away in Rogers, Arkansas, on October 25, 1982.
Velda began working for the United States Postal Service in Bentonville, Arkansas on March 16, 1970, and worked for the USPS in Fayetteville, Lowell, and again in Bentonville before being appointed Postmaster in Decatur, Arkansas in 1980. She later served as Postmaster in Gentry, Arkansas until her retirement in October 1992.
Velda married Harlan “Duke” Stahlecker in Naper on March 27, 1993. Duke and Velda continued to live in her home in Decatur, Arkansas until they moved to Canyon Lake, Texas in 2000 where they resided for the next 14 years. They purchased Bill & Frieda Blakkolb’s home in Naper in 1994 and annually spent the warm weather months in Naper until moving there full time in 2014. Duke moved to an apartment at Butte Senior Living in Butte, Nebraska when Velda was admitted to memory care at Aksarben Senior Living in May 2016.
Velda loved to read, travel, and, most of all, spend time with and take care of her family. She was a devoted daughter, wife, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She was a member of the Methodist Churches in Decatur, Arkansas, and Jamison, Nebraska and also attended the First Congregational Church in Naper. She was a life member of the Naper VFW Post 8256 Ladies’ Auxiliary. She will be missed greatly by all of her family and friends.
Velda was preceded in death by her parents, Fritz and Hertha Sieh; husband, Jim McLaughlin; brother Verlyn Sieh, sister-in-law, Linda Sieh; children, Sharon and Mickey; and daughterin-law, Barbara Elaine McLaughlin. She is survived by her husband, Duke Stahlecker of Butte, NE; brother, Loren Sieh of Naper; sister-in-law, LaVerna Sieh of Omaha, NE; son, Stanley McLaughlin (Barbara Jo) of Omaha, NE; two daughters, Edith Stavinoha (John) and Leah Folb (Stuart) of Houston, TX; two step-daughters, Valorie Bray (Pat) of Austin, TX and Vicki King (Tim) of Arroyo Hondo, NM; nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Naper Auditorium at 10:00 AM on Saturday, December 15, 2018, followed by a luncheon at the auditorium. Memorials may be made to Serene Care Hospice, 4905 South 107th Avenue, Omaha, NE 68127, serenecareomaha.com or to a charity of your choice.
PAID OBITUARY