Cela Kaiser, 91, of Kansas City, Kansas passed away on Monday, November 28, 2022. She was born in Napoleon, Missouri on April 21, 1931, to Wilbert and Bertha Schlapper. Cela graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1949 and the University of Kansas nursing program in Kansas City in 1952.

While in high school, Cela met Paul Kaiser at Zion United Church of Christ.  They married at Zion in 1952 where they were active members for many years.  Cela and Paul were married for more than 64 years until his death in 2017.

Cela worked as a registered nurse at doctors’ offices while Paul served in the U.S. Air Force, then became a full-time mom to raise four children.  As the children grew older, she resumed her nursing career to work at several hospitals in Kansas City. Upon retirement, she volunteered at Providence Medical Center.

Cela enjoyed a variety of crafts and was a member of Zion’s 3C (Creative Christian Companions) Circle.  Her family and community benefited from the quilts, holiday decorations, pot scrubbers, paintings,  macrame, cross stitch and crochet which she made.  Her family fondly remembers her pies, sugar cookies, and Thanksgiving sausage dressing. 

Cela outlived her younger brothers Eugene and Victor Schlapper.

Her loving survivors include her four children Lynn Kaiser, Leigh (Ben) Huseman, Paul Kaiser, Carol (Mike) Tomandl and grandchildren Erik (Haley), Diane (Scott), Jacob, Janelle, and Austin.

Visitation will be Monday, December 5, from 10-11 a.m. at the Porter Funeral Home, 1835 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas, with a celebration of life at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery, 2301 S. 34th Street, Kansas City, Kansas. A luncheon for family and friends will follow.