GALLUPVILLE — Faye Stolzenburg, a farmer, wife, and mother of four children who harbored a fondness and aptitude for the arts, died peacefully at home on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, after an extended illness. She was 86. 

Born on June 26, 1936 in Oak Ridge, New York, Mrs. Stolzenburg was the only child of Pearley and Mary (née Egleston) Brand. Mrs. Stolzenburg’s parents were farmers who played music on the side, with her father, who offered classical instruction to his young daughter, leading a local orchestra that sometimes featured Mrs. Stolzenburg on the piano and organ. 

While her father handled her musical instruction, Mrs. Stolzenburg’s mother tendered her general education in a one-room schoolhouse until Mrs. Stolzenburg completed the fifth grade, at which time she began attending the Fonda-Fultonville school, leaving after eighth grade for Schoharie Central School, where she graduated at the top of her class in 1952. 

It was at Schoharie that Mrs. Stolzenburg met her future husband, Carl, who, according to their daughter, Lynn Motschmann, was a handsome, charming farmer that commanded the interest of all the other schoolgirls. 

“She was not real popular with the other girls for stealing him away,” Mrs. Motschmann said. 

The two married on Valentine’s Day in 1954, when Mrs. Stolzenburg was just 17, meaning she had to first get permission from her parents. Once married, Mrs. Stolzenburg joined her husband at his family’s dairy farm on Zimmer Hill.  Their union lasted for 64 years, ending only with his death.

While helping out on the farm, she had worked briefly in a secretarial role at General Electric, as well as at the Apple Barrel farm store, but gave up outside professional work when she had her children, the first of whom was born in 1958. 

As a farmer’s wife, Mrs. Stolzenburg, in addition to caring for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, found herself a “surrogate part-time parent for an endless series of neighborhood kids who worked on the farm through the years,” her family wrote in a tribute.

She was also  active with the fire department auxiliary and as a 4-H leader in Gallupville.

In their free time, Mr. and Mrs. Stolzenburg enjoyed square-dancing as members of the Hayshakers Square Dance Club, with which they were involved for many years. It was with friends they made at this club that they “traveled far and wide” in their semi-retirement years, Mrs. Stolzenburg’s family wrote. 

On her own, and throughout her life, Mrs. Stolzenburg enjoyed artistic pursuits, including needlework, ceramics, photography, and more, with her deepest passion lying in tole and decorative painting — allowing her to leave behind a material legacy for her family.

“We all have households of her painted things,” Mrs. Motschmann said.

Mrs. Stolzenburg’s artistic sensibilities, which she passed down in classes, and further honed in national workshops, made her a capable gardener as well, with a collection of daylilies to show for it. As with her art, she would often give flowers to those she loved. 

“She was a person that was available to anyone who needed anything …,” her daughter said. “She was extremely strong. She dealt with a lot in life, including losing an adult child to cancer, and she was always there if we needed anything. She was supportive of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who were a joy to her.”

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Faye Stolzenburg is survived by her son, Mark Stolzenburg, and Mark’s wife, Nan; her daughter, Lynn Motschmann, and Lynn’s husband, Spencer; and her daughter, Maribeth Stolzenburg, and Maribeth’s husband, Tom Marshall. She’s also survived by her grandson Evan Motschmann, and Evan’s wife, Liz; her granddaughter Lindsay Stolzenburg, and Lindsay’s husband, Sam Weinberg; her granddaughter Hannah Falkenmeyer, and Hannah’s husband, Josh; her grandson Bryan; and four great-grandsons. 

Mrs. Stolzenburg’s husband, Carl, and her daughter Lisa died before her. 

Following Mrs. Stolzenburg’s wishes, a private family burial ceremony was held at the Gallupville Rural Cemetery.

Memorial messages may be left at altamontenterprise.com/milestones.

 Memorial contributions may be made to Scho-Wright Ambulance Service, 388 Main St, Schoharie, NY 12157 or Gallupville Volunteer Fire Department, 109 School St, Schoharie, NY 12157.

— Noah Zweifel