Adelheid Machemehl Schumann Kloss was born March 26, 1907, in Bellville, the eldest daughter of L.A. and Adelheid (Reichardt) Machemehl.

She graduated from Bellville High School in 1925, and enrolled in Southwest Texas Teachers College. After one year of college, she began teaching in a one-room school house at the Ives Creek School.  While at Ives Creek, she was the only teacher for the first to seventh grades and taught 30-to-40 pupils ranging in ages from seven to 17.

After four years at Ives Creek, she transferred to Bellville Elementary and began teaching fourth grade and seventh grade English.

Adelheid married Herbert Carl Schumann in 1931, and assumed the role of farm wife by helping her husband with the farm chores. She was responsible for making butter and sausage and for selling them along with eggs to the Bellville community.

In 1955, her husband, Herbert, lost a lengthy battle with cancer.  Adelheid returned again to school and enrolled in the University of Houston where she completed her education degree and obtained her teacher’s certificate. She returned to teaching the fourth grade at Bellville Elementary for a total of 23 years.

Adelheid married Richard Kloss of Millheim in 1959. The couple enjoyed attending dances, various community functions, church engagements, and many vacations until Richard’s death in 1992.

Adelheid attributed her physical well-being to God’s blessing which enabled her to attend thrice weekly water therapy sessions in Brenham, other active physical activities, and her passion, a 60’ by 80’ garden which she worked by hand to give produce to relatives and friends.

“You have to get up early in the morning to beat this old grandma,” Adelheid would jokingly remark.  “I enjoy being active and attending various community events – that’s what keeps me going!”

Adelheid loved her church and was a life-long member of St. John Lutheran Church of Bellville, where at the age of 15, she began playing the pump organ.

She attended church every Sunday, regularly participated in the Mary Circle, and taught Sunday School. She was also active in the Bellville Garden Club, the retired Teachers Association, Bellville Historical Society, Austin County Aggie Mom’s, the Hermann Sons, Extension Homemakers, the Bluebonnet Chapter of the German Society, and the Millheim Hall Auxiliary. She maintained an active interest in all school and community activities and was an enthusiastic supporter of the Bellville Brahma football team.

In addition to her more than 100 ribbons and trophies awarded at the Austin County Fair, Adelheid won many awards in the Austin County Pecan Show. At the State Extension Homemakers meeting in 2003, she was given the “Texas Treasure Award.” She was selected in 2004, to serve as Grand Marshal for the Austin County Fair Parade.

Adelheid was called to be with the Lord on April 22, 2011, at the age of 104.

She is kept in loving memory by her son and daughter-in-law Herbert and Laura Schumann;  stepson J.C. Kloss and his wife Glenda; grandchildren Brian Schumann and his wife Kristi, Deanna Porter and her husband Doug, Scott Schumann and his wife Kelly, and Brenda Schumann; step-grandchildren Ricky Kloss and his wife Debbie, Jeff Kloss and his wife Jennifer, and Tracy Carlson; great grandchildren Hunter Schumann, James Schumann, Katie Schumann, Laura Porter, and Dylan Porter; step-great grandchildren Richard Kloss, Michelle Kloss, Spencer Kloss, Emil Kloss, Kara Carlson and her fiancée Steven Carpenter, and Cory Carlson; step-great-great grandchildren Ryan Dahl and Tyler Dahl. Also included in her family are numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Adelheid was preceded in death by her two husbands Herbert Carl Schumann and Richard Kloss, her parents L.A. Machemehl and Adelheid (Reichardt) Machemehl, and her four brothers, Louis Jr., Borel, Charles, and Milton Machemehl.

Visitation was 5-9 p.m., Sunday, April 24, 2011 at Schmidt Funeral Hom Bellville. 

Funeral service was 10 a.m., Monday, April 25, 2011, St. John Lutheran Church, Bellville, Pastor Jennie Jones and Pastor David Henske, officiating

Interment, Oak Knoll Cemetery, Bellville.  Pallbearers: Brian Schumann,                                              Scott Schumann, Doug Porter,                                                               Rick Kloss, Jeff Kloss,                                                          Allen Wienecke, John Douglas Brandt, Bob Machemehl.

Honorary pallbearers: Robert Schumann, Mary Gibson, Bonnie Toalson                                                     Billi Peacock and her loving caregivers

Friends who wish may make memorial gifts to the: St. John Lutheran Church, 520 North Holland, Bellville, Texas 77418