Gingerich, Gertrude Elizabeth Yoder (1880-1957)

Revision as of 14:51, 8 June 2017

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Oct 31 p. 5

Birth date: 1880 Jan 19

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Nov 7 p. 8

text of obituary:

Gertrude Elizabeth (Yoder) Gingerich, daughter of Gabriel and Anna (Kempf) Yoder, was born Jan. 19, 1880, in Iowa County, Iowa; departed this life Oct. 17, 1957, in Mercy Hospital at Iowa City, Iowa, aged 77 years, eight months and 28 days.

Lizzie’s home was one of many afflictions. Having much surgery and sickness in her family, her special quality was to endure it patiently. Although in failing health the past four years, she was always able to be about until the last two weeks of her life, which she spent in the hospital.

In her youth she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized at the Upper Deer Creek Church, later transferring her membership to West Union Mennonite Church where she was a faithful member until death.

She was married to Menno Gingerich Feb. 10, 1901, who survives. They lived in wedlock nearly 57 years. This union was blessed with three children, Ellen Mae (Mrs. Orval Swartzendruber), Irving Maynard and Esther Cathryn, all of Parnell, also one foster daughter, Louella (Mrs. Eugene Blosser) of Hokkiado [sic Hokkaido], Japan.

Preceding her in death besides her parents and two daughters, Ellen and Esther, were three sisters, Agnes, who died at the age of 17, Ruhama, Mrs. Cornelius Gingerich, and Mary, Mrs. Will Hauber. She leaves to mourn her departure her husband; one son, Irving; two sisters, Esther, Mrs. John Doolin, and Leah Maude, Mrs. A. E. Zook, both of Wellman; two brothers, Noah of Wellman and Rufus of Kalona; 11 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, besides a host of relatives and friends.

In addition to being mother to her children she was a mother to a niece who came to her home when three days old. Louella was among the first Mennonite missionaries in China and is now on the mission field in Japan.

Funeral services were held at the West Union Mennonite Church in charge of Harvey Yoder and Max Yoder. Burial was made in the West Union cemetery.