Leona Zschiesche Marwitz Eilers

Leona Zschiesche Eilers, born Leona Alma Marwitz, age 94, passed away May 16, 2017. Visitation will be Saturday, May 20, 2017 from 6-8 PM at Riley Funeral Home. Service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pottsville, Texas, 2 PM, Sunday, May 21, 2017. Interment to follow at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Pottsville, Texas.

Leona was born August 4, 1922, in Indian Gap to Eduard and Frieda (Klaus) Marwitz, the youngest of eight children. Leona was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pottsville. She grew up and worked on the family farm with her brothers and sisters and went to school during the horse and buggy days with her brother, B.J. and sister, Lydia.

On November 19, 1943, Leona was married to Edgar Lehman Zschiesche. They were stationed in Michigan and South Carolina during WWII. Edgar preceded her in death in July 1981. Leona and Edgar had four children: Threasa, Janice and her husband, David, Michael and his wife, Ernestine, and Yvonne and her husband, Howard. There are ten grandchildren: Jonathan, Laura, Donald, Christopher, Robyn, Jennifer, Mica, Erin, Noland, and Angela and their spouses: Brian, Janna, Lori, Mark, Matt, Roderick, and Tiffany. There are also 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

The family enjoyed fish fries, making homemade ice cream, friends, domino parties, dancing, and big family reunions.

Leona married Melvin Eilers in 1984. He preceded her in death in 2014. This union brought 4 step-children into her family: Donna, Melvin and his wife, Gwen, Larry and his wife, Pam, and Bill and his wife, Diann; along with their children and grandchildren.

Also preceding her in death were her parents, two brothers, and four sisters.

Her pallbearers were her 10 grandchildren.