Margarete Emilie Appelt, 82, of Hallettsville, passed away Oct. 12, 2022.  She was born on August 7, 1940, to Karl Jacob Sprenger & Emilie Marie Diehl Sprenger in Kaiserslautern, Germany.  Her beginning was not an easy start.  Her home country was at war with the world and her beloved father and brother were forced into this war; never to be seen again.  Due to limited food and resources, she suffered from health problems and was not able to walk until she reached the age of 5 years old.  When she turned 14 years of age, she went to work at a factory while attending school.  She did this to help her widowed mother who was suffering from health problems.  Margarete was a brilliant mathematician and a leader in every task given to her when it came to business.

When Margarete reached the age of 22, she met a soldier with the US Army by the name of Magdaleno Garcia.  Even though this man was 22 years older than she was they were both smitten with each other.  He courted her and eventually met Margarete's mother.  Her mother was not keen on the idea of her dating him due to his age and because he was a soldier.  It may have taken some time but in the end, her mother was won over by him.  In November of 1962, they were married and began a family together the following year.

Their years together in the next six years saw the death of Margarete's mother, and the birth of five children.  She has also started a new life in America.  Retired from the army, Magdaleno found it difficult to find work at his age with help from Margarete they would junk cars, pick cotton, and do other odd jobs to keep a roof over their children's heads and food on the table.

In 1973 she experienced the most difficult event a mother could ever face.  Her oldest son Karl died at the age of 6 years old.  She questioned God as any parent would and her mental state was shaken.  It was during this time she prayed for strength to continue for the sake of her children.  Two years after Karl's death her family was blessed with a beautiful baby girl.  The healing had begun with this little girl; for her parents as well as her brothers and sisters.

As her children grew up and began their own lives, she met the boys that her daughters were dating.  She was not afraid to tell them what she thought of them.  Because of this some never were seen again.   When Ruben Garza began courting her daughter Carla, Margarete made it known that she did not like his long hair and his 1970s wild child life.  But just like her husband Magdaleno did with his mother-in-law, Ruben eventually won her over.  As the years passed her list of grandchildren began to expand and toward the end of her life, she was blessed with the title of great-great grandmother.

After years of building their life and sending off their children into the world, Margarete encouraged her husband to get back into society and enjoy the rest of the time they had together.  She became a U.S. citizen in 1993.  She began to volunteer at the Senior Citizen Center, and she joined the VFW Ladies Auxiliary serving as president for many years.  She and her husband would travel all over Texas, to conventions.  She loved her adopted country, she was very patriotic by dressing in her red, white, and blue ensembles and being very vocal in the campaigns of support for American World War Veterans.

On October 15th, 2000, the man she built a life with died with her beside him.  For the next two years, after his death, she continued volunteer work with the center, and it was there that Dennis Appelt asked her on a date to the movies.  She accepted his offer and after dating for a while he became her husband in August 2004.  "Pop" as her children called him, led a very quiet life and never fathered children.  She brought him out of his shell, and they set out together by traveling and doing things that couples in "ultra" retirement did.  It had gotten to a point that if you wanted to see either Margarete or Dennis you had to make an appointment.

Sadly, Margarete was faced with losing the second love of her life.  The sudden death of Dennis occurred, and she found herself alone again.  Sharing her life with strong men and being more vocal and social gave her the strength and courage to continue.  She was ready to begin life on her own for the first time in over 40 years and succeeded in everything she set her mind to.  With friends and family nearby, she persevered in all that she did.

Years later, when Margarete became incapable of living on her own, her daughter Carla brought Margarete home to live with her and Mike.  Carla became her voice and gave her the strength to carry on.  Just as Margarete did for her father, Carla kept Margarete busy with travel, breakfast, lunches, and beauty shop appointments.  Mike, her son-in-law added to her life by giving her humor by playfully ruffling her feathers.  He provided enough caring and compassion to both Margarete and Carla to carry on to the end.

Today we mourn Margarete's earthly demise and celebrate her passing to eternal life.  Her strength and resilience should be a reminder to all who gather here.  We are in awe of all that she went through and survived.  This passage which was read to her before her passing is from Isaiah 41:10. It was one she found peace with and hopefully we all will find our strength with God's love, just as she did.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee:

be not dismayed; for I am thy God:

I will strengthen thee

I will help thee

I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

AMEN

Margarete was proceeded in death by:  her parents, husbands, Magdaleno Garcia (m.1962-2000) & Dennis Appelt (m.2004-2009); son Karl Wilhelm Garcia; sisters, Anna Sprenger, Erna Wenneman, Imgard Bach, Lore Jacob; brother Wilhelm Sprenger; cousin Olga Grieger; and her beloved son-in-law Ruben Garza.

Margarete is survived by:  daughters, Emilie Katherina Shadden & husband Christopher Shadden, Margaret Lora Garcia, Carla Rosel Garza & partner Mike Appelt, and Mary Jane Garcia; son John Marcel Garcia; grandchildren, Ricky & Christy Garza, Jennifer Garza & Eli Sciba, Michael & Danielle Garza, Joaquin Garza, Andrew Garcia, Abby Garcia, Emilie Sprenger, Magdalena Lugo, Alexander Knochel and Marivella Knochel; great grandchildren, Marcedes, Zander, Selena, Kaeden, Ares, Aura, Autumn, James, Eleanor, Madison, Carlie, Destiney, McKenzi, Alexis, Camron, Kayce, Justin, Haven, Abrianna, KeAndre; and great great grandchildren, Jazmyn, Phoenix, Oaklynn, Everly and Cynthia.

Funeral Service: 10 am, Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, at Zion Lutheran Church in Sublime. Visitation from 5 pm to 7 pm, Sunday, at Kubena Funeral Home. Pallbearers: Eli Sciba, Vance Rodriguez, Ricky Garza, Michael Garza, Joaquin Garza, Camron Alamilla. Officiant: Pastor Herb Beyer. Memorials (in lieu of flowers): Hospice of South Texas or a charity of one's choice. Burial: Geiger Cemetery, Sublime TX.