Ella Schuler

Ella Frieda Winkelmann Schuler died May 7, 2011 at Aldersgate Village Retirement Home after a brief illness. She had lived in Topeka, since 1934. At the time of her death, she was the third oldest person in the U.S. and the sixth oldest in the world. She was born Sept. 5, 1897 in Fontenelle, Nebraska, the daughter of Marie and Claus H. Winkelmann. She married John C. Schuler August 19, 1923. They co-owned and operated Schuler's Grocery. Mr. Schuler, her husband of nearly 60 years, died March 4, 1983. Her oldest son, James E. Schuler died Feb. 27, 1952 in Evanston, IL. Her second son, John C. Schuler Jr., died in 2004 at Lakewood, CA. She is survived by her son, Robert D. of Birmingham, MI, six grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and two great-great- grandchildren.

She completed her high school education in Topeka while in her 50's after her three sons had graduated from Topeka High School. She attended Washburn University for three years.

Mrs. Schuler belonged to the Topeka Women's Club and Rebekah Lodge #95 for over fifty years. She was a former long-time member of Lowman Hill United Methodist Church, the YWCA, Active Primetimers, F.C.E., and during WWII, the Civil Air Patrol.

The former Schuler's Grocery Store is now the Mulvane General Store at Ward-Meade Historical Park. She loved to read and travel. Her travels took her to Europe and to many US states. Inurnment will be at a later date in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Topeka, Kansas.