Albany - Mae Rose Blumer was born on September 17, 1914 just west of Albany on Dunphy Road. She passed away at home, peacefully, surrounded by her whole family on the eve of her 96th birthday, September 16, 2010. After spending her early childhood years on the farm, she moved with her parents, John Jacob "JJ" and Elizabeth "Betty" (Schenk) Blumer and brother Fred to town. She graduated from Albany High School in 1932. She married Frank Holtsapple, a farmer, on December 29, 1935. In 1938, the young couple moved to the same farm that Mae was born on. They survived the Great Depression by raising chickens, selling eggs, and growing vegetables. Their love for each other and the land sustained them through the tough times and flourished. They passed this love of family and farming on to their three children: Bonnie, Glenn, and Kristine. After many years together spent working, fishing, playing cards, and enjoying their family, Frank passed away in 1976. For the next thirty-four years, Mae never considered leaving the farm.
Mae loved to learn new things and see new places. She visited 49 of the 50 United States and toured Europe. She went to Switzerland twice and was able to see the homes that her parents lived in before coming to the United States. Her second trip was in 2005, at the age of 90, with all three of her children. In addition to traveling, she had numerous hobbies; growing and tending African Violets, flower and vegetable gardening, reading, playing cards, watching the birds, cooking, babysitting her grandchildren, writing in her diary, and crocheting. Above all, she loved spending time with her growing family.
Mae was preceded in death by her husband Frank, parents, brother Fred, father and mother-in-law Frank and Emily Holtsapple, daughter-in-law Margaret Holtsapple, sisters-in-law Laura Jacobson and Virginia Blumer, brothers-in-law Sheldon and Austin Holtsapple, nephews Kris Blumer and Gene Holtsapple, and niece Marian Maenner.
She leaves behind her children Bonnie (Arlyn) Zee, Glenn (Sue Schmelzer) Holtsapple, and Kristine (Tom) Modaff, all of Albany; her grandchildren Wendy Detra, Cherie (Dick) Boss, Kari (Greg) Johnson, Tom (Lori) Modaff Jr., Jessica and Crystal Holtsapple; great-grandchildren Elizabeth and Richard Detra, Gabrielle and Owen Boss, Grace Gold, and Ellie and Tristan Modaff; a sister-in-law Wilma Holtsapple, and several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staffs of the Monroe Clinic and Hospital - Monroe and Albany, Woods Crossing Skilled Nursing of Brodhead, and Monroe Clinic Home Care/Hospice for the wonderful care they've provided for Mae over the past few years.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, September 21, at 11:00 A.M. at the Albany United Methodist Church with Pastor Pat Soddy officiating. A visitation will be held from 4:00-7:30 P.M. Monday at the Albany United Methodist Church. A memorial fund will be established in Mae's name.
Your memory is our keepsake, with which we'll never part, God has you in His keeping, we have you in our hearts.
Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home