Chrysta M. Schmelzer

Chrysta Marie (Albrecht) Schmelzer was welcomed into her heavenly home by her Savior, Jesus Christ, on March 18, 2024. Her time of grace spanned ninety-six years, 11 months, and three days. The daughter of the Rev. Christian Albrecht and Clara (Mundinger) Albrecht, she was born on April 15, 1927, in Tucson, Arizona. Shortly after, she was reborn into Jesus’ kingdom of grace through the miracle of baptism. Her earliest years were spent in Whiteriver, Arizona, where her father served as missionary to the Apache tribe located there. The rest of her childhood and teenage years were spent in parsonages in Johnson, MN; Glenwood, MN and Goodhue, MN. She is a graduate of Dr. Martin Luther High School and Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, MN. Her lifelong passion and love for music was fueled by her experiences at both schools where she was a member of the band and several choirs, even serving as the conductor of one of the college choirs. After her graduation from Dr. Martin Luther College in 1948, her first call was to Trinity Lutheran School, Belle Plaine, MN, where she served as teacher, organist, and choir director.

While an undergraduate at Dr. Martin Luther College, she met her future husband, Edwin Schmelzer, a student at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, who was serving a one-year call as instructor at the college. They were united in marriage on June 30, 1949, by her father at Calvary Lutheran Church, Glenwood, MN. They established their first home in a parsonage in Minnesota, where Edwin was serving as pastor in Butterfield and Darfur, MN. His ministry moved them to live in North Monroe, MI; Flat Rock, MI; Escanaba, MI; Boyd, MN; Mankato, MN and Remus, MI. In each congregation, Chrysta used her significant musical gifts as organist and choir director. She was also a dedicated primary grade teacher for nearly thirty years in the Chippewa Hills School District, Remus, MI. She earned a Master’s Degree from Central Michigan University in 1981.

After their retirement in 1988, the Schmelzers moved to the Town of Jackson, Wisconsin, where Edwin and Chrysta continued cultivating their love for gardening, as well as traveling throughout the country in their motor home. Chrysta continued serving her Lord into her 90s as an organist for Trinity Lutheran Church, West Bend. All told, Chrysta served her Lord as a church organist for over seventy years! Her love for teaching didn’t end as even into retirement she volunteered in the classrooms of area Lutheran elementary schools, teaching the primary grades basic math skills as “Zero Hero” while also teaching German to the lower grades.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 54 years, the Rev. Edwin Schmelzer on July 24, 2003. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her sisters: Caroline (in infancy) and Ruth (Albrecht) Meyer; brother-in-law Milton Meyer; daughter Janet (Schmelzer) Lebamoff; sons-in- law: Barry Washburn and Philip Otto; sister-in-law Lois (Schmelzer) Walker; brother-in-law Frank Walker; sister-in-law Elaine Schmelzer: nephews James and Matthew Walker and nieces Susan Walker and Bernice (Meyer) Abbot.

She is survived by seven children: Catherine (Bruce) Fehlauer, Carolyn (Philip) Otto, Eunice (Barry) Washburn, Rev. Daniel (Patty) Schmelzer, Mary (Patrick) Enright, Karleen (Dale) Oppermann, Esther (Keith) Bowe, and son-in-law Robert (Diana) Lebamoff; 23 grandchildren, Jonathan (Amy) Fehlauer, Jeremy Fehlauer (Samantha Suddeth), Dawn Fehlauer, Stephanie (Karl) Orvik, Thomas (Kathryn) Otto, Benjamin (Jessica) Washburn, Nicholas (Brittney) Washburn, Tiffany Washburn, Eric French, Jennifer (Aaron) Zimny, Christian Schmelzer, Trevor (Rebecca) Patt, Lindsay (Benjamin) Carr, Kyle Patt, Eric Patt, Andrea (Marcus) Grasenick, Alexander (Jessica) Oppermann, Audrey (Kody) Schlicht, Chrysta Bowe, Paul (Erica) Bowe, Angela (Jordan) Ertl, Lauren Lebamoff, and Alexander (Aliya) Lebamoff ; and brother-in-law, Norman Schmelzer. She is further survived by 25 great-grandchildren with three more expected, nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends.

Her victory celebration will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 2:00 PM at David’s Star Lutheran Church, Kirchhayn, WI, with Rev. Michael Woldt and Rev. Kurt Loescher officiating. The family will greet relatives and friends on Saturday from 12:00 -1:45pm at the church. Vicar Christopher Gorr will officiate the internment service at the church cemetery.

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.

Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?

Thanks be to God!

He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”

(1 Corinthians 15:54-57)

Memorials are appreciated to David’s Star Lutheran Church or School, Trinity Lutheran Church or School or Capstone Ministry.