Aug. 19, 1904 - May 6, 2008

Mabel Schlegel, 103, of Albany passed into the arms of Jesus Tuesday at the Mennonite Home.

She was born in Kalispell, Mont., to Levi and Barbara (Roth) Neuschwander. At age 4, Mabel moved with her family to the Albany area and attended Tallman School through the eighth grade.

She accepted Jesus as her savior at age 12 and joined the Fairview Mennonite Church. She became a member at Albany Mennonite Church in February 1923 and served there until her death.

Mabel married Harry Schlegel on Dec. 24, 1922. Six children were born to the couple: Bob, Leonard, Barbara, Dick, Mary and Jim. Mabel and Harry moved many times, but Mabel lived at her home at 2020 Geary St. for 61 years. She moved to the Mennonite Village and later to Quail Run Assisted Living Facility. For the past 21/2 years she had resided in the Mennonite Nursing Home.

Mabel worked with her children picking strawberries, beans and prunes. She also worked at Swifts Frozen Foods, babysat and worked in the kitchen at Albany General Hospital until retiring at age 67. She enjoyed embroidery, quilting, crocheting and knitting for many years. She also did tatting, which she continued until age 96. Mabel loved flowers and was seen working in her flower beds and garden.

She lived to see transportation evolve from horse and buggy to automobile to airplane. She flew to Europe with her granddaughter and daughter-in-law at age 86. She greatly enjoyed seeing the birthplace of her grandfather, Peter Neuschwander, in Berne, Switzerland.

Mabel was concerned that her family knew and served her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Mable is survived by daughters Barbara Headings, and Mary Leichty and husband Wilmer Leichty; 14 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 24 great-great-grandchildren; and sister Berniece Walkup.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; sons Bob, Leonard, Dick and Jim; grandson Gary Schlegel; granddaughter Jodi McGee; great-granddaughter Emily Schlegel; brothers Harvey, Arthur, Edward, Herschal and Lester; and sister Edith Tellefson.

A visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Fisher Funeral Home. A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Albany Mennonite Church, with committal services following at Riverside Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to the Albany Mennonite Church or the Mennonite Home Foundation, in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 Washington St. S.W., Albany, OR 97321.