ROWENA - Our loving mother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother, Edleen Agnes Pfluger Buxkemper, age 96 of Rowena, died April 29, 2023.
She was born in Pflugerville, on Dec. 12, 1926. She was the youngest child of Edmund Ernest and Clara (Kurzman) Pfluger. She attended many schools in her early life, including the Rowena Public School. She graduated from Ballinger High School with many honors with the class of 1944.
It was at Ballinger High School she met her life-long soul mate and love, husband Weldon Otto Buxkemper. They were married in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rowena on Dec. 28, 1944 and were married for 49 wonderful years.
During World War II, Weldon was inducted into the National Guard/Air Force. When he was relocated to Kansas and Illinois Bases for service, she joined him and worked at the PX in Officers Affairs offices as a clerical tech. After the war, Edleen and Weldon moved to Wall where they rented a farm and began their life.
In 1958, Weldon and Edleen moved back home to Rowena. Weldon and Edleen owned and farmed the 'Old Buxkemper Homeplace:' on the river road between Ballinger and Rowena.
She worked right along Weldon's side. Mom was a true farmer's wife and mother, raising three kids, growing a garden, helping Weldon in the fields, and doing errands, and farm chores. Mother was a wonderful cook. Mother was the heart of our family.
Weldon died on Feb. 17, 1993, from a fatal heart attack. In 2008, Edleen left her home in Rowena and found a new home in San Angelo at the Rio Terrace Assisted Living. She made many new friends. She would live at the Rio Terrace and the High Rise for 12 years. Many card and domino games of 42 were played with her friends. She loved planning their talent shows and sing-alongs. She organized and coordinated the Religious Weekly Catholic Mass for the residents of the Rio Terrace and the High Rise for 12 years. Mother was devoted to her faith and church.
Preceding her in death was her loving husband Weldon Buxkemper; her parents Edmund and Clara (Kurzman) Pfluger; her brother Joe Pfluger; sister Katie Priem; mother and father-in-law, Gerard and Mary Josephine Buxkemper; her granddaughter, Jessica Saucedo Buxkemper; and her granddaughter-in-law, Lyndi Fischer Dieringer. Also, the six Buxkemper sisters and brothers-in-law, and nieces and nephews.
Survivors are her daughters, Barbara Jo Lange and husband Kenneth of Rowena and Linda Ann Dieringer and husband Wilbert of St. Lawrence; and her son, Robert Allen Buxkemper and his wife Kim of Ballinger.
Edleen was blessed with eight precious grandchildren: Lori Lange Looka and husband Roger of Miles, Texas, Bryan Lange and wife Laura Ricci of Abilene, Brandon Dieringer and wife Laura Howard of St. Lawrence, Derek Dieringer (Lyndi Fischer Dieringer) of St Lawrence, Jarrett Buxkemper and wife Jenn Harrigan of Silverthorn, Colorado; and Jamie Buxkemper Martin and husband Dustin of Boerne; and Jayton Buxkemper of Austin.
Great-grandma's extra special great-grandchildren: Garrett and Kolton Looka, Carter and Berkley, and Cooper Lange, Landry Dieringer and Braxton Dieringer, Kyler, Masyn, and Hadly Dieringer, and Summit and Stadler Martin. Also surviving is her niece Oleen Priem of San Angelo, and Greatnephew Thomas Lynch of Austin. Also, several Buxkemper Nieces and Nephews.
A Rosary will be at St Joseph Catholic Church on May 4, at 6 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be May 5, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, at 10 a.m., with Father Tom Barley celebrating and Father Ariel Lagunilla as the Co-Celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Rowena.