Tillie Hein, 106, passed away peacefully Christmas 2014, with family by her side. Beautiful, intelligent, and loving, she was sharp and energetic for all but the last days of her life.
She was born Otillia Mary Sramek, Nov. 8, 1908, in Pilsen, Kansas, the third of six children, to Peter and Philomena Sramek. She attended school in Pilsen and graduated from Lincolnville High School. She married the love of her life, Frank Srajer, who passed away in November of 1944. They had two children, Dolores and Donald. After her children were grown, she married Jake Hein, he also preceded her in death.
Siblings Paul, Henry, and Edmund Sramek, Philothea “Rita” Snell, and Philomene Sandwell; and a son-in-law, Ronald Scott, also preceded her.
Tillie is survived by her daughter, Dolores Srajer Scott of Emporia; and son, Donald Srajer and wife, Carolyn, of Omaha, Nebraska. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Debra Scott and husband, Terry Dody, of Manhattan; Pamela Fillmore and husband, Bill, of Cottonwood Falls; Rebecca Nottingham and husband, John, of Ozawkie; Richard Scott of Cypress, Texas; Jim Srajer and wife, Kris, of Tampa; Amy Srajer-Briggs and husband, Lynn Briggs, of Orange City, Florida; Craig Srajer and wife, Teresa, of Moline, Illinois; Kristin O’Hern and husband, Jeff, of Gretna, Nebraska; Mike Bauer and wife, Kathy, of Omaha; Dave Bauer and wife, Susan, of Omaha; and Jon Bauer and wife, Michele, of Atlanta, Georgia; 15 great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; eight step-great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins, including Jitka and Merek Smrz of the Czech Republic.
Tillie actively participated and volunteered in Tampa and Marion County. She was a member of the Holy Family Parish, Holy Redeemer Church and active in the altar society. In 1987, she was crowned Tampa Centennial Queen. She was president of Sunflower Senior Citizens, organizing senior trips across the region and always enjoying everything she saw. She distributed commodities for the Tampa community, and enjoyed meeting all kinds of people. Tillie actively worked on her farm outside of Tampa, from helping deliver calves to riding combines during wheat harvest. In her later years she moved machinery and cooked for the workers.
While in her 90s, she often babysat great-grandsons Grant and Cole Srajer. Tillie amazed people with her vim and vigor, dancing at her 100th and 105th birthday celebrations. She believed in living life to its fullest, and rarely missed an opportunity to have fun. In recent years she sledded with her great-grandsons in the snow, and climbed up on a combine just last summer during wheat harvest.
The Funeral Mass was held Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, at Holy Redeemer Church, Tampa, with interment in Pilsen Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established for Holy Redeemer Church, in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, PO Box 6, Marion KS 66861.