Frances Theresia Niekamp

Frances Theresia Niekamp, 96, of Taos, died Friday, July 18, 2014, at Oak Tree Villas surrounded by her family. She was born on September 5, 1917, in Loose Creek, the daughter of the late Charles and Mary (Backes) Haslag. She was united in marriage on June 22, 1938, in Loose Creek, to Albert Theodore Niekamp who preceded her in death on January 7, 1974. Frances was a nanny in St. Louis prior to marrying her husband Albert. After her marriage she helped her husband on the family farm and helped to raise their family. After the death of Albert, she helped at St. Francis Xavier School as a cook and later provided child care for area children. She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Taos, St. Ann's Quilting Sodality, and was a 4-H leader. Frances enjoyed quilting, sewing, crocheting, making dolls for all of the girls in her family, traveling, gardening, and Sudoku puzzles. Frances's favorite meal was fried chicken and ice cream. Above all, Frances loved being with all her loving family. Survivors include: six children, Jim (Robin) Niekamp, Columbia; Bill (Janie) Niekamp, Wardsville; Laurine (Stanley) Verslues, Taos; Evelyn (Sylvester) Kremer, Loose Creek; Wilma (Clarence) Prenger, Taos; Viola (Roger) Schaefer, Taos; 37 grandchildren; 7 step-grandchildren; 83 great-grandchildren; 1 step-great-grandchild; 19 great-great-grandchildren; 2 step-great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Margaret Schaefer, Linn; Sr. Alice Haslag, Liguori, Mo; and a sister-in-law, Esther Haslag, Linn. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a grandson, Norman Kremer; a great-granddaughter, Shelia Haslag; a granddaughter-in-law, Kimberly Kremer; a daughter-in-law, Connie Niekamp; two brothers, Clarence and Alfred Haslag; and two sisters, Angie Eads and Anne Niekamp. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 22, 2014, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Taos with the Rev. Wayne M. Boyer officiating. Burial will be in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Monday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with a prayer service at 3:30 p.m. Additional visitation will be 9-10 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to St. Francis Xavier Quilters, 7319 Route M, Jefferson City, Mo 65101; American Cancer Society; 2413 Hyde Park Road, Jefferson City, Mo 65109; or American Heart Association, 915 Country Ridge Drive, Jefferson City, Mo 65109. Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.