Westerman, Elisabeth Goering (1888-1934)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1934 Oct 16 p. 14

Birth date: 1888 Dec 27

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1934 Oct 17 p. 2

text of obituary:

Elisabeth Westerman

Elisabeth Westerman was born on December 27, 1888, at Moundridge, Kansas, where she grew up to womanhood in the parental home of Rev. John C. and maria Goering. On July 5, 1903, she made her covenant with God in holy baptism and united with the First Mennonite Church of Christian at Moundridge, Kansas. She was a member of this congregation at the time of her death.

She was united in marriage to Earl Westerman on June 7, 1907, and lived with him in wedlock for a little over 27 years, when death severed this union. Three children were born to them, — two daughters and one son, all of which survive their mother. She was an affectionate wife and mother, and with a self-sacrificing spirit she labored incessantly for the welfare of her family. A few years after the marriage the family moved to Pretty Prairie, Kansas, and after residing there a number of years they moved to Hutchinson, Kansas, where they had their home for many years. Last spring they moved back to Moundridge and made their home on the Westerman farm five miles southeast of this town.

But the deceased was not to remain long in her old community, for early on the morning of October 3, as she was driving home from Moundridge with her husband sudden death overtook her in an automobile accident. The awful tragedy is a great shock to her family and to the community. Her age was 45 years, 9 months, and 4 days. She leaves to mourn her sudden departure her husband, Earl Westerman, her three children Pearl, Gladys and Lacy — all three of Hutchinson, Kansas — her daughter-in-law Taska [sic Jaska] and one grandson Dean Earl Westerman, her father, four sisters, 5 brothers and many other relatives. A large circle of friends also cherish memory. Because of her unassuming, winning and industrious ways she made friends rewadily and they hold her in high esteem. She is gone, but not forgotten.

Funeral services were held at the First Mennonite Church of Christian on Sunday afternoon, October 7, with the pastor, Rev. P. P. Wedel in charge. Such a large number of people were in attendance that the church could hold only about one-third of them.