Grace Nadine (Tuttle) Schlegel, age 85, passed away April 24, 2023, at the Cedar Village Care Center in Ness City, KS. Grace was born September 6, 1937, in Rozel, KS, to Louis and Lucy Jane (Countryman) Tuttle. As a young child, Grace grew up on the family farm across the drive from her grandmother, Ada Tuttle.
Many happy memories were made spending one on one time with her grandma and playing with cousins when they came to visit. Grace attended school in Rozel until her parents bought a small farm in Hodgeman County, east of Jetmore, where her brother Harry was born. Grace graduated from Jetmore High School and attended Fort Hays State University. She and Wesley “Pete” Schlegel were married on February 12, 1956, in Jetmore, KS. Pete often told the story of how he picked his wife up when she was walking the streets in Jetmore. To this union three daughters were born, Jan, Pat and Jo. The girls were raised on the family farm southwest of Ness City. Pete passed away on Christmas Day, 2014.
Grace had a strong faith that defined who she was, and she passed that faith on to her family. She was a member of the United Methodist Church. She was involved in United Methodist Women at the local and district levels. She taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and attended Bible Study Groups. Grace looked forward to the days when she worked at the United Methodist Thrift Store. She enjoyed working with the other volunteers and meeting the customers that came in the store. Grace’s family is very grateful to those who recognized she was failing, but continued to have patience with her, helping her to stay involved with the Thrift Store for as long as she did.
First a homemaker, but never one to sit idle, Grace kept busy with other organizations as well. As a member of the Tri-Circle Jaynes Extension Unit, she held various offices and was involved with many projects. When the unit chose to disband, the ladies continued to meet monthly to sew lap blankets for residents of Cedar Village. Grace was presented with one of the blankets that she had helped sew, when she moved to Cedar Village.
Grace was an accomplished seamstress. She was always up for a challenging project and made countless wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, cheerleading uniforms, men’s suit coats and anything else that might be asked of her. Her daughters were blessed to each have a one of a kind wedding dress, made with love. Grace made sure that each of her daughters, grandkids and many nieces and nephews learned the basics of sewing. Many times the house on the farm would be full of girls and sewing machines. Grace, the 4-H sewing leader, would move from one girl to the next instilling in them her knowledge and love for sewing. She enjoyed getting to know each “student” and they would finish off a sewing session with her freshly baked chocolate chip cookies or Kingla.
Grace was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Pete, her younger brother Harry and her son-in-law Jake Rider. Survivors include Jan Rider, Jo (Neil) Pfannenstiel, Ness City, Pat Schlegel (A.J. Bosco), New York City; seven grandchildren, Tyler (Becky) Rider, Tanner (Stephanie) Rider, Trevor (Amber) Pfannenstiel, Brodie (Samantha) Pfannenstiel, Kendra Pfannenstiel, Anna Bosco and Chiara Bosco; and twelve great grandchildren.
While Grace was small in stature, her presence and personality were not. She was devoted to God, her faith and her family. She always did what she could for her family and friends. She truly was “Amazing Grace."
A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, May 8, 2023, at the United Methodist Church in Ness City at 11:00 a.m. Contributions may be given to the United Methodist Church, Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation, or Cedar Village.