Warkentin, Elizabeth Unger (1888-1963)

Revision as of 15:16, 2 December 2014

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1964 Jan 2 p. 5

Birth date: 1889

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1964 Jan 9 p. 8

text of obituary:

A Tribute

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Mrs. Elizabeth Warkentin, widow of Dr. Abraham Warkentin, a former teacher at Bethel College and first president of Mennonite Biblical Seminary, died Dec. 24 at the home of her daughter at Tonaphah, Nev. Funeral services were also held there Dec. 28. The following tribute was read at a memorial service Sunday evening, Dec. 29, at the First Mennonite Church of Newton, where her late husband had served as a minister for some 20 years.)

By Mrs. Helen Claassen

As our hearts contemplate the life of a cherished friend and prayer partner, Mrs. Elizabeth Warkentin, we are moved to say, "She hath done what she could." There was time and thought for those small things so often neglected, such as that letter, box of hand-decorated marzipan, note of appreciation, or invitation.

From our meager knowledge Elizabeth Unger Warkentin's life would seem to divide itself into three parts, and she only knew how deeply the one affected the other.

As the outstanding girl in her village of Alexanderwohl Russia—she and the young school master Abraham Warkentin were married in 1912.

Hurrying away to Hamburg, Germany for theological training, they expected to return to a teaching position, but plans were altered when war, in Aug. 1914, closed the borders. Never were they to return to the unopened wedding gifts and possessions.

For the next 11 difficult years, Dr. Warkentin served as instructor in Wilhelmsdorf and later at Wuerttemberg—also in "Mennonitisches Hilfswerk."

Four children blessed their home, although Mrs. Warkentin's health began to fail.

Another adjustment was to be made when in 1923 under Mennonite Brethren sponsorship, they claimed America as their home. Dr. Warkentin was called as assistant pastor of First Mennonite Church of Newton, Kan., where he served unselfishly for 22 years.

After Dr. Warkentin's death, and not wishing to burden her children or others, she applied her arts—sewing children's garments, or doing find handwork for merchants on the West Coast. Unassuming and quiet but with confidence in her ever-present living Lord, she was happy to be of some service.

Mrs. Warkentin planned to spend Christmas in her daughter's home, but early that morning her spirit went to be with the Lord. Her body was laid to rest near her daughter's home on Saturday, Dec. 28—which would have been her 75th birthday.

For one who has walked among us, words are so inadequate! Let her memory serve to cause many to believe in the Lord, and spur us on to accomplish the godly acts she could not do because she lacked physical strength!

The Mennonite obituary: 1964 Feb 4 p. 75