Emilie Ruth (Wiebe) Busenitz
WHITEWATER - Emilie Ruth (Wiebe)
Busenitz, 89, passed away on Monday (Aug. 16, 2010).
Our mother was born on Nov. 10, 1920,
to Herman and Anna Wiebe at home on a farm near Whitewater.
She was the fifth of nine children and
lived with her family on that farm throughout her growing-up years.
She attended a one-room grade school one mile from the original
Emmaus Church, and during six weeks of the summer, participated in a
German Bible School. Later, she completed two years of high school at
Hesston Academy.
In 1941, when Mother was 20, she
married Dad (Bernhard Busenitz). They moved into a second house at
Dad's home, two miles from Elbing. After four years, as their family
grew, they traded houses with Dad's parents and moved into the home
where he had been born.
Mother came to know Jesus Christ as her
personal savior at an early age. She was baptized by the Rev B. W.
Harder when she was 17 years old. She sought to live her life fully
committed to God. Mother was passionate about Bible study, teaching
the young mother's Sunday school class at Emmaus and a women's Bible
study for many years. She was instrumental in hosting a women's Bible
study at Presbyterian Manor that continues today. Praying for and
supporting missionaries was a strong commitment. The scriptures and
hymns she had committed to memory remained a constant source of
strength.
Mother enjoyed sewing, crocheting,
quilting, gardening, feeding the chickens and making wedding cakes.
She served on committees for the Willing Workers, Berean Auxiliar,
and Emmaus church kitchen. Mother enjoyed humor and could easily get
the giggles with her daughters.
Mother cared deeply for her family. She
was committed to being a helpmate to Dad and faithfully supported him
throughout his life. She nurtured us as young children by reading
many Bible stories and other books, and leading us in a brief prayer
song each morning before we left for school.
In 1984, when mother was 64, she and
Dad bought a home in Whitewater. They lived there until 1999 when
they moved to Presbyterian Manor in Newton.
Following Dad's death in 2000, mother
continued living at Presbyterian Manor.
In later years, she often spoke with
gratefulness of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren,
and expressed her joy as well as concern that her family learn to
love the Lord. Only heaven will reveal the results of her many
prayers on our behalf. Her life of gratitude and contentment have
been a real example to us, and even in her declining years, her faith
and trust in God remained strong.
Mother went home to be with her Savior
on Monday at the age of 89.
Preceding her in death were her
husband, Bernhard; parents; two brothers, Alfred and Edward; and two
sisters, Hilda Regier and Esther Busenitz.
Those who cherish her memory are her
children, Laverne and Marilyn of Whitewater, Eldon and Marliss of
Clio, Mich., Clarence and Twila of Peabody, Elvina and Vyron Schmidt
of Goshen, Ind., Della and Brian Loewen of Newton, Sharon and Brad
Graber of Waterloo, Iowa, Lester and Jane of Newton, Tim and Sheryl
of Inman, and Sam and Jennine of Newton; 31 grandchildren; 55
great-grandchildren; one sister, Gladys Wiebe; and three brothers,
Waldimar, Richard and Willie Wiebe.
Visitation with family greeting friends
will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Emmaus Mennonite Church,
9070 N.W. Meadowlark Road in Whitewater.
Graveside service will be at 9:30 a.m.
Thursday at Emmaus Cemetery, with a memorial service following at 11
a.m. at the church.
