Waltraud Gertrude Bammes

Waltraud (Wally) Gertrude Bammes, 86, of Abilene, KS, formerly of Wamego and Junction City, KS passed away February 20, 2025. Waltraud was born January 30, 1939 to Emil and Pauline Rosine Heller Hoelle, in Illingen, Germany at the beginning of World War II. She immigrated to the United States in 1959 coming through Ellis Island to join her fiancé and later husband, Helmut Cordier. They were married May 11, 1960 in Huntington, NY. Of this union were 3 daughters, Isabel, Judy, and Elizabeth. After Helmut died on February 19, 1964 she moved to Kansas with her daughters. On November 20, 1966 she married Emory Strauss. Of this union came a son, Michael. They later divorced. He too proceeds her in death. She married Larry Bammes on April 8, 1995. He proceeded her in death January 2018.

Wally is survived by her daughters Isabel Schmedemann, Herington, Judy (Gradon) Fielder, Chapman, Elizabeth (Douglas) Schonberner, Georgetown, TX. Her son, Michael (Christina) Strauss, Junction City. She is survived by a brother, Ulrich Hoelle, sister, Liesellotte Pohl, stepbrother Manfried Klein, all of Germany. She is preceded in death by her parents, son-in-law Ralph Schmedemann, her brother Helmut Hoelle, sisters, Adelheid Mader, Margarete Painter, Erika Dlugosch. She is also survived by grandchildren, Brent (Lisa) Fielder, Kasey (Lacey) Fielder, Katelin Schmedemann, Henry Schmedemann, Emil (Nichole) Strauss and Meghan (Jonathan) Bechard. Her precious great grandchildren, Wyatt, Grason, Lillian, Landyn, Wesley, Vincent, Sylvia, Skylar, Destiney, and Cameron, as well as many nieces and nephews. 

Wally had a life that was turbulent and full of ups and downs, but it was her resilience, humor, stubbornness, and a daily spoonful of sauerkraut that saw her through most things. Wally worked as a jeweler’s assistant and then as a waitress in her younger years in Germany. It was at the restaurant in her village that she met her husband Helmut. She followed him to America where they operated a delicatessen on Long Island, NY. Shortly after his death, she moved to Kansas and eventually married Emory Strauss, dairy farmer that she met through church in Junction City. She farmed with him and her children for many years and was the manager of the local Hallmark store in Junction City, as well. They divorced and she moved to Manhattan. She worked in central processing as a clerk at St. Mary Hospital for several years. Soon she met and married Larry Bammes, an electrician. After they married, she helped him with his electrician business. They retired together and lived on the outskirts of Wamego where they worked together and grew beautiful gardens full of tomatoes, and cantaloupes. After Larry’s death, she moved to Herington and then to Abilene and saw her family as much as she could. 

Wally loved listening to Elvis Presley and it didn’t take long for her to be dancing to his beat. She would tell anyone who would listen that he was the greatest singer/performer ever.

 Wally has been cremated, and a future burial is planned at this time. 

As Wally was always a defender of and advocate for children, a memorial has been established to the St. Jude’s’s Children’s Hospital.

Family will welcome the public on March 15, 2025 from 10-11a.m. at the Johnson Funeral Chapel and a memorial service will be held from 11-12n on March 15th.