Nelcine Strickler

August 21, 1923 – July 30, 2016

After a life of loving service to friends, family and community, Nelcine Marie Kleypas Strickler passed from this life to experience the eternal love of God on July 30, 2016.

Nelcine was born on August 21, 1923 to Julia Marie Rebeca Dillon and John Baptist Kleypas in Burlington, Texas. She was born into a family that demonstrated the power of Catholic faith, which she embraced and embodied through her love and compassion. She was the eldest of seven children (Joseph Edgar, Rosemary, Earl John, Daniel Bartholomew, Allen Eugene and Agnes Marie) and earned the nickname of "Little Mother" because she was always willing to help with the cooking, cleaning and caregiving. She however did not particularly enjoy picking cotton in the fields, since she was only about half the size of a hundred-pound bag of cotton. She graduated from Rosebud High School and attended business college where she developed strong administrative skills. Her passion for learning permeated her whole life. She frequently remarked that you learn something new every day, surprised that even at ninety-two there was always more to learn.

She and Clarence Clifton "Buck" Strickler were married very early in the morning of September 26, 1942. In an attempt to keep the crowd small, they were married at 7:30am on a record setting cold day. After Buck returned from service in WWII, they settled in Houston where she was secretary to the VP, Sales at Phenix Dairy. She was proud of her contributions as a working woman and used many of those skills to keep her future household in order.

When her first child, Donald Joseph, was born, she became a devoted mother and found her true calling. She was a loving, nurturing mother, a dedicated wife, and a loyal friend to neighbors. She cared for the sick, the elderly, and people in need with generosity and humility for the remainder of her life.

Nelcine is preceded in death by her husband, Buck, and her son, Donald Joseph. She is survived by her sister, Agnes Kleypas Kiesewetter, her sister-in-law, Shirley Luse Kleypas, her children, Thomas Clifton (Carol), Robert Bruce (Kathleen) and Jeanne Marie Steed (J.Raymond) and her daughter-in-law, Kareen Strickler. She has been a wonderful role model and inspiration to her grandchildren, Sarah Strickler Stone (Jeremy), Clifton Strickler (Ai), Julia Strickler, Mark Strickler (Rita), Patrick Steed (Meredith), Thomas Steed (Laurens), Darren Templin (Ali), Vincent Templin (Sarah) and her great-granchlidren, Theodore Stone, Luke Strickler, Anthony Strickler, Cayden Templin, Benjamin and Noah Templin. She will also be missed by many cousins, nieces, nephews, god-children and friends who valued her kind words and loving phone calls, especially on their birthday, anniversaries and special days in life. Through her compassion, thoughtfulness, and fervent prayers on behalf of any one who needed them, Nelcine earned a special place in the hearts of everyone who knew her.

Donations on behalf of Nelcine Strickler can be made to The American Cancer Society at donate.cancer.org or Saint Helen Catholic Church, 2209 Old Alvin Road, Pearland, TX 77581.