Stauffer, Irene Lehman (1899-1945)

Revision as of 15:52, 26 March 2014

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1945 Mar 22 p. 3

Birth date: 1899 Dec 16

text of obituary:

Irene Stauffer, nee Lehman, was born December 16, 1899, in Osceola county, Iowa and died in her home near Tofield, Alberta, on February 18, 1945, at 4:00 p.m., aged 45 years, two months and two days. She was the oldest child of Rev. and Mrs. J. K. Lehman. In 1901 her parents moved to Mayton, Alberta, where they were among the pioneers of that district. Here Irene grew to young girlhood.

In 1915 her parents moved to Hubbard, Oregon, taking their family with them. While living there, they worshipped with the Hopewell Mennonite congregation, where Rev. Lehman served as minister. About the spring of 1918 they returned to Mayton, Alberta, and shortly after that moved to the Tofield, Alberta, district, settling on a farm near Dodds.

In her youth, Irene accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour, uniting with the Mennonite church, of which she remained a faithful member until her death.

On August 20, 1920, she was united in marriage with Ezra Stauffer of Tofield. To this union were born two sons, Joseph Robert and James Leroy, and three daughters, Margaret Irene, Beulah Mary and Virginia Louise. Two daughters, Margaret and Virginia, preceded her in death.

Irene proved to be a faithful wife and mother in her home, being greatly interested in the work of the Lord and the church. She sacrificed herself in the interests of this type of work since her husband was absent from home the most part of the past ten winters engaged in teaching in bible schools.

For the past several year Mrs. Stauffer had been in failing health, suffering form high blood pressure which resulted in heart disease. She had a number of unusually heavy trials the past few years which she underwent with true Christian courage and fortitude. last fall she became seriously ill and spent six weeks in the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, during the middle of the winter. To ease the strain on her heart she underwent an operation for goitre, which to all appearances seemed to be remarkably successful. She often expressed a desire to get well and enjoy life with her family a little longer but was resigned to God's will. she seemed to be slowly recovering when without premonition or warning at 4:00 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, February 18, she suddenly passed from time to eternity within a few minutes in the presence of her family and her uncle, Menno Widemans, who were Sunday afternoon guests in the home. All were gathered around the table visiting and enjoying an exceptionally happy afternoon when the death messenger suddenly struck. For the first time in several months Mrs. Stauffer had attended church services, which she greatly enjoyed.