Elfriede Emma Kuemmerle

Mrs. Elfriede Emma Kuemmerle, of Bay City, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 8, 2024 at her daughter’s home in Coldwater, MI at the age of 96. The daughter of the late Ernst Gotthilf Ochs and Emma Karoline (Wandel) Ochs, she was born on October 11, 1927 in Reutlingen, Germany. On October 27, 1951 in Germany, she married George Kuemmerle and together they immigrated to the United States in June of 1953, settling in Bay City. Prior to moving to the United States, she worked as a seamstress. Throughout her lifetime, she continued in her trade, as an excellent seamstress, creating many treasured items of clothing. She was a homemaker for numerous years, tending a garden, canning, and baking her own bread. Her cooking and baking were enjoyed by many. Once her children were grown, she began working in the Michigan Sugar Company lab testing the sugar contents of the sugar beets. Elfriede was a long time member of Zion Lutheran Church, Bay City. In her final years, she lived with her daughter and son-in-law in Coldwater, MI, where she was blessed by the regular visits of her great-grandsons.

Elfriede is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Ruth and Ron Patch, her granddaughter, Elizabeth (Daniel) Tucker and great-grandsons, Tyler and Thomas; her son and daughter-in-law, Hans and Sofi Kuemmerle, grandchildren, Nicholas Kuemmerle, Kaitlyn Kuemmerle, and Julio (Julie) Silva and family; numerous nieces and nephews both in Germany and the U.S.; and her extended family, Walter and Ann Hagen and family.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, George, a brother, two sisters and their spouses in Germany, becoming the last of her generation on both sides of the family.

The family would like to thank the staff of Oaklawn Hospice, especially Marsha and Britney, for their compassionate care during the past year and a half. We also appreciate the thoughtful team at Helping Hands Home Care that have assisted us during the past few weeks.

Funeral service will take place at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at Zion Lutheran Church. Officiating will be Pastor Phillip Baerwolf. Private interment will take place at Floral Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will take place at the church on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service. Memorial cards for Zion Lutheran Church or Oaklawn Hospice will be available at the church.