Claire Halamka

CLAIRE MARIE HALAMKA NEE MUELLER

Claire Marie Halamka was born on July 20, 1934 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her parents were Carl G. Mueller and Inez L. Mueller nee Seeley.

She was baptized into Christ on September 7, 1934 in Sherman Park Lutheran Church in Milwaukee Wisconsin, and confirmed in Christian faith on April 14, 1946 in Grace Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg Florida.

She graduated from Tri-County High School in Plainfield Wisconsin in 1951. She majored in English and minored in music at Wisconsin State Teachers College (now the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point) and graduated in 1955. Sometime later she earned her Master of Education degree with an endorsement in reading at the University of Tennessee - Chattanooga.

On August 15, 1959, she and seminary graduate Ronald F. Halamka were united in holy marriage at Hales Corners Lutheran Church in Hales Corners, WI. On October 7, 1960 they began serving as Chinese-speaking missionaries in Taiwan, The Republic of China.

She began her teaching career at Lutheran High School in Racine Wisconsin in 1955. She subsequently taught first grade at Concord Lutheran School in St. Louis Missouri, her private Kindergarten for military and missionary children in Chia Yi, Taiwan, and conversational English to Chinese students at Concordia Middle School in Chia Yi.

Back in the States, she was a substitute teacher for Cleveland High School in Cleveland Tennessee. In Memphis Tennessee, she taught at public junior and senior high schools, Christ the King Lutheran Church and School, and Intensive English for Internationals at the University of Memphis.

She was interested in reading, sewing, knitting, needlepointing, counted cross stitch and crafts. She served as a Girl Scout Camp Unit Leader and a Troop Leader. And she enjoyed traveling throughout the United States as well as in Western and Eastern Europe and in The People’s

Republic of China.

She led a choir of Chinese youth at Grace Lutheran Church in Chia Yi, and congregational choirs in Cleveland Tennessee, and Graham Texas.  She was a choir soprano and occasional soloist. As needed, she accompanied church choirs and worship services.

Christian worship, Bible study, fellowship and congregational mission endeavors were always of high priority for her. Since 2017, she was a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Waxahachie Texas. For years she was involved in Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML) - zone rallies, national conventions, mite offerings for mission projects.

She was a dear and loving gift from God for her husband, daughter and son, relatives, colleagues and students, and many friends. With life-long faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, she fell asleep in the Lord on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 in Waxahachie, TX. Visitation is set for Monday, September 4th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Wayne Boze Funeral Home.

The Funeral Service will take place at Christ the King Lutheran Church at 302 W. Hwy 287 Bypass on Tuesday, September 15th at 10:00 a.m., with Pastor Jared Raebel conducting the service. Committal to God for eternal life in Christ will follow at Gateway Memorial Park, 2319 W. US 287 Business.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her younger sister Phyllis June Wagner, and her younger brother Gary Wayne Mueller.

She is survived by her husband Ron Halamka, her daughter Kathryn C. Montgomery and husband Michael of Waxahachie Texas, her son David M. Halamka and wife Kimberly of Fishers Indiana. She has 4 grandsons: Taylor Thompson and wife Olivia, Wade Thompson and wife Whitney, Jared Halamka (USMC) and Joshua Halamka. She has 1 granddaughter: Jessica Halamka, a sister-in-law Nancy Mueller; 2 nephews: Brian Leszynski and Wayne Leszynski; 6 nieces: Stacy D’Acquisto and husband Tony, Tina Marking and husband Craig, and Leah Mueller-Grant; also, Donna Hunkins, Tracy Lawrence and Kimberly Senger.

Memorials may be directed to the music ministry or building expansion of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Waxahachie, TX.