Unruh, Gertrude Decker (1917-1954)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Sep 2 p. 9, 1o

Birth date: 1917 Jan 5

text of obituary:

MRS. GERTRUDE UNRUH

Mrs. Gertrude Decker Unruh, our beloved wife and mother, was born to Tobias and Mary Unruh Decker on Jan. 5, 1917, near Durham, Kansas and departed from this earthly life at the Bethesda hospital, Goessel, Kansas at 12:20 p.m. on August 11, 1954. She reached the age of 37 years, seven months, and six days.

During a revival in Jannuary [sic January] 1931 she realized her lost condition and accepted Christ as her personal Savior. Upon the confession of her faith she was baptized on Feb. 1, 1931, by Rev. Henry Schmidt and was accepted into the fellowship of the Friedenstal Mennonite church, where she was a faithful member until her death.

On April 16, 1944, she was united in the bonds of holy matrimony to Lawrence Unruh. For 10 years we trod life’s pathway together in joy as well as in sorrow. This union was blessed with two daughters, Judy Carol and Cheryl Jeanette. The first 13 months of her married life were spent with her husband in C. P. S.

Gertrude was a loving, kind, and tender wife and mother. She had a cheerful and sunny disposition and was not easily discouraged. She enjoyed good health until February 1953. She underwent treatment at Savannah, Missouri which proved to be successful. God’s grace was sufficient to uphold her in these days and after this experience she followed Him more closely than before. Some months later her health began to fail and medical aid was sought at different times, and on August 8 she was taken to Bethesda hospital where the doctors diagnosed the illness as cancer.

Many prayers were sent up in her behalf but the Lord had other plans for her, no doubt higher and better than ours. On Wednesday, August 11, at 12:20, in spite of all that was done for her she passed into the presence of her Lord whom she loved and served here on earth.

During her illness she was very patient and had a smile on her face in spite of the severe pain which she endured, especially in the last days. Her life during her last days was a testimony of her love for Jesus who had saved her and not forsaken her in the hour of affliction. She expressed her concern for her children and also for her nieces and nephews. Truly she walked with God and he took her home. We weep because of her parting but rejoice in the knowledge that she is now forever safely at home with her precious Lord, whom she loved and followed, and we have the hope of meeting her again in glory.

Those who remain to mourn her departure are her devoted husband, Judy Carol, 5, and Cheryl Jeanette, 3; her father, Tobias Decker; parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Unruh; five brothers, Carl and Harry of Durham, Kansas, LeeRoy [sic Leroy] of Galva, Kansas, Alva of Newton, Kansas and Elmer of Durham, Kansas; four sisters, Emma, Mrs. Arnold Jantz of Gypsum, Kansas, Lena, Mrs. Tobias Schmidt of Newton, Elsie, Mrs. Albert Johnson, and Clara, Mrs. Allen Unruh of Durham, Kans.; nine sisters-in-law, eight brothers-in-law, a large circle of nieces and nephews and a host of relatives and friends. Her mother and one brother, Andrew, preceded her in death. — Lawrence Unruh and Children.