Lila Schrack Willich Mahan
Nov. 19, 1918 - Sept. 29, 2008

Lila Schrack Willich Mahan, 89, of Sterling, passed away Monday, Sept. 29, 2008, in Sterling. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at Chaney-Reager, with the Rev. Gary Meadows officiating. Interment will be at Prairie View Cemetery in Stoneham.
Lila Schrack Willich Mahan entered this world on Nov. 19, 1918, in Clarinda, Iowa, as the oldest child of Vern and Mabel Schrack. She left peacefully on Sept. 29, 2008, after living a lifetime.
The family homesteaded on a farm near Stoneham, where Lila began her education experiences in a one-room school house. In 1929, the small country schools were consolidated into one school in Stoneham, where she graduated in 1936. After graduation, she attended Colorado State Teacher's College in Greeley and obtained her teaching certificate. Her first teaching job was in a one-room school in Vim.
In 1939, she married Robert "Bob" Willich of Stoneham. In 1942, she began teaching elementary school in Stoneham, where she taught for 17 years. In 1963, Bob passed away.
In 1965, she married Eugene "Gene" Willich of Stoneham, and left teaching. She and Gene traveled throughout the western United States with Gene's job until Gene's death in 1971.
In 1972, Lila moved from Stoneham to Sterling and began teaching again, being employed as a remedial reading teacher at Sexson School. She retired from teaching after four years and began workign part time in retail clothing.
In 1981, Lila married Ray Mahan. Lila and Ray enjoyed traveling and attending their grandchildren's sporting events.

Lila was involved in the American Legion Auxiliary, holding numerous offices, working with Girl State and elementary school essay contests, being a 4-H leader and a member of the Methodist faith. She was a lifelong learner and loved reading, traveling and spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends.
Lila's love of education is best noted in 1984 when she received the Outstanding Pioneer Education award. At which time, she provided a brief autobiography of her life. At the end of her resume, she state: "Old teachers never die, they just lose their class!" Don't believe this, Lila never lost her class and her dedication to learning and teaching shall be her legacy.
Lila is survived by two daughters, Sherrill Brammer and husband Jim of Sterling and Kay Dollerschell and husband Gary of Stoneham; two step-daughters, Carole Quint and husband Robert of Sterling and Bonnie Cox and husband Sherrill of Grand Junction; seven grandchildren, Jay Brammer, Jill Brammer, JoLynne Pranke, Jami Wulf, Jeff Dollerschell, Chris Dollerschell and Kelli Wienke; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Lila was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Mary Ellen; brothers, Thomas, Duane and Rolland; and her husbands, Bob Willich, Gene Willich and Ray Mahan.