Sophia Catherine Sailer was born August 25, 1917, the daughter of Joseph and Celia (Muhlbauer) Riesselman. She passed away on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at the Denison Care Center in Denison, Iowa, at the age of ninety-four.

Sophia was born in Halbur, Iowa, the oldest child of four and attended St. Augustine Catholic School in Halbur. In her younger years she earned money by babysitting and house cleaning. On October 1, 1940, Sophia was united in marriage to Martin Sailer at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Halbur, and to this union seven children were born. The couple farmed six years in the Manning area until moving to the farm they purchased in 1947 near Schleswig.

Sophia was a busy mother and homemaker, helping out on the farm, raising chickens, selling eggs, growing a garden, and canning her produce. She was a good cook and enjoyed baking pies, scrap-booking, keeping a daily diary, and babysitting for her grandchildren. Sophia and Martin loved to travel and were able to visit France, Canada, Hawaii, and other vacation spots after they retired. She was a member of several card clubs, participated in Euchre tournaments, and joined the Farmerettes and Clubettes organizations, and was a Farm Bureau member while living on the farm. Sophia was very active at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Charter Oak when she joined there in 1947, serving as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, and teacher of CCD classes for more than 30 years. She enjoyed socializing with family and friends and was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Martin in 1992; two daughters, Jacinta in infancy; and Jane in 1955; one grandson, Travis; and one brother, Joey. Survivors include four sons: Joel and his wife, Eileen; Jeff and his wife, Kathi; Jon and his wife, Linda; and James and his wife, Elise; one daughter, Julie and her husband, Jim; twenty-one grandchildren; thirty-six great-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild; one sister, Lila; one brother, Alfred and his wife, Velma; other relatives and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, January 14, 2012, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Charter Oak, Iowa. Fr. Timothy Friedrichsen served as Celebrant of the Mass with interment in St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery in Charter Oak. Organist Mary Daniel provided accompaniment for the service and vocalists Maura Sailer and Emily Sailer. Andrea Sailer, Melissa Kearney, and Melani Sailer served as lectors. Lois Croghan, Vicki Behrens, and James Sailer served as Eucharistic Ministers. Kristi Lindwall, Jen Pratti, Tiffany Pamaran, Tricia Heithoff, Rachel Sailer, Katie Sailer, and Michaela Matthiesen served as gift bearers. Josef Rogers, Ana Rogers, and Miranda Rohe served as altar servers. Serving as pallbearers were Martina Rogers, Daniel Sailer, Roger Sailer, Ryan Sailer, Scott Sailer, Greg Sailer, Matt Sailer, Bob Sailer, Tim Rohe, and Ted Rohe. Scriptural Prayer Services were held Friday at 5:30 P.M., at the Huebner Funeral Home in Charter Oak. The family invited everyone to the Charter Oak Community Building for fellowship and lunch prepared by Staley's and served by the Altar Society. The Huebner Funeral Home in Charter Oak was in charge of arrangements.