Zelma Kathleen Gemaehlich, daughter of the late Norris E. and Katherine Pyle of Fleming, passed away Aug. 18, 2011, in Haxtun at the age of 77. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, at Haxtun United Methodist Church, with Pastor Jodie Harless officiating. Burial will be at Fleming Cemetery.

Zelma was born June 2, 1934, in Carbondale. She attended elementary schools in Minturn, Golden, Glenwood Springs and Westwood, and Puyallup and Renton, Wash, and completed the eighth grade in Carbondale. She attended and graduated from Fleming High School in 1952.

Following graduation, Zelma was employed at Mountain Bell in Sterling as a telephone operator.

In 1954, Zelma married Donald R. Wilson and to this union were born Sherri, Larry, Beverly and Karen. In addition to being mom, Zelma had many other jobs. She was the co-owner of Wilson's Cleaners and was the first female school bus driver in the Haxtun Schools. She also taught tap and ballroom dance lessons to a generation of students throughout northeastern Colorado in the 1960s.

She began her career in the United States Postal Service in 1966 at the Haxtun Post Office. In 19734, she transferred as the first ever female employee of the Sterling Post Office. She began on the loading docks unloading semi trailers of mail on the night shift and in time was promoted to clerk and carrier. She later assumed the position of officer-in-charge at the Merino and Iliff post offices and was next appointed postmaster of Fleming, where she remained until her retirement in 1997. During her career, she also served as the facilitator of the Quality of Worklife (QWL) pro-gram throughout the state of Colorado.

In 1984, Zelma married Alfred Cantonwine of Sterling and they made their home in the LeRoy community. At the time of Al's death, Zelma continued to live in their country home.

She was blessed with 11 years of love when she later married Norman Gemaehlich who became her best friend. The couple were avid gardeners, loved to follow grandchildren's activities and traveling to Arkansas to visit family there.

Zelma has been an active community volunteer and member of the LeRoy United Methodist Church, as well as a volunteer on many church mission projects. She loved music of all kinds, theater, bowling with friends and her Walker lawnmower. But mostly, she loved her family.

Zelma is survived by her husband, Norman; daughter, Sherri Hinde and husband Terry of Julesburg; son, Larry Wilson and wife Karie of Haxtun; daughter, Beverly Beard and husband Charles and daughter, Karen Halper, all of Eureka Springs, Ark.; step-daughter, Wanda Kulesa and husband Geoff of Golden; step-daughter, Lisa Artzer and husband Bret of Littleton; and stepson, Danny Gemaehlich of Fort Collins. She leaves behind grandchildren, Sara Michael and husband Kelly of Haxtun, Garett Wilson and wife Emily of Windsor, Jennifer Leimback and husband Dan of Casper, Wyo., Hannah Hinde of Julesburg, Kyle Wilson and Taylor Wilson of Haxtun, Dillon Halper and wife Brittany, Gregory, Michael and Michelle Beard, and Alex and Brittney Halper, all of Eureka Springs, as well as Kyle, Bryce and Ryan Kulesa, Sarah, Jacob and Rachel Artzer and Brayden Gemaehlich. Great-grandchildren include Tate and Blakelyn Michael, Jaelyn Mae Wilson and Nicholas and Kyleigh Halper. She is also survived by brothers, Raymond Bellm and wife Joann of Mesa, Ariz., LeRoy Pyle and wife Anna Mae of Sterling, Dale Pyle and wife Mary Beth of Grand Junction and Ernie Pyle and wife Anna Marie of Fort Collins, and a host of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Bellm.

Contributions may be made to Leroy United Methodist Church.