Entz, Elise Bergman (1878-1934)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1934 Jun 12 p. 13

Birth date: 1878 May 15

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1934 May 30 p. 1

text of obituary:

Wives of Two Local Ministers Called by Death.

The local Mennonite congregation as well as the entire community, were saddened last Friday, at the report of the death of Mrs. C. A. van der Smissen [sic C. H. A. van der Smissen] of the Bethel Home for Aged, and Mrs. J. E. Entz, wife of the pastor of the First Mennonite church. Mrs. van der Smissen passed away quite suddenly at about seven o'clock Thursday evening, after she and her husband had spent part of that afternoon on an auto trip with Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Claassen. Since she partook of a good supper after the return, hear death which followed about an hour later, came very unexpectedly. She had, however, been in ill health for a number of years and at this time was entirely dependent upon the constant and devoted care of her husband.

Mrs. Entz passed away at her home east of newton at about 10 o'clock Friday morning after a lingering illness of several months. Devoted to her family and to the spiritual interests of the Mennonite church of which here husband is pastor, the absence of her help and counsel will be deeply felt.

Funeral services for Mrs. van der Smissen were held at the Bethel Home and at the First Mennonite church Tuesday afternoon, while funeral services for Mrs. Entz are being held today at the First Mennonite church. Rev. J. M Suderman of Buhler was in charge of the services held for Mrs. van der Smissen.

The Review extends heartfelt sympathies to the families and relatives of the departed.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1934 May 30 p. 4

text of obituary:

LOCAL

. . .

— Funeral services for Mrs. J. E. Entz, who passed away on Friday morning, will be held at the home east of Newton and at the First Mennonite church this afternoon.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1934 Jun 6 p. 2

text of obituary:

My beloved wife, and our dear mother, Elise Entz, nee Bergman, was born May 15, 1878, at Leske, near Marienburg, Germany and departed this life on May 25, 1934, at an age of 56 years and 10 days. Her parents were Jacob and Justine Bergman.

When she was but one year of age her parents, with their family of five children, and other relatives and friends came to the United States, since compulsory military service had been instituted in their home country. They located on a farm east of the present town of Whitewater, Kansas. Here the departed spent a happy childhood and grew up to womanhood, attending school in her rural community and later also one year at the Preparatory school at Halstead.

Having been brought up and led to Christ in her godly parental home, she gave her heart definitely and fully to Jesus at the time of her catechetical instruction, receiving Him as her personal Saviour and Lord of her life, whom she has faithfully served until her end. This, her faith and covenant with the Lord, was sealed in her baptism on June 2, 1895, when she was baptized upon the confession of her faith and received into the Emmaus Mennonite church, of which she remained a faithful member until coming to Newton, where she joined the First Mennonite church.

On Nov. 16, 1905, we were joined in the bonds of holy matrimony and for 28½ years were permitted to live together in the happiest of fellowship, striving by His grace to live for and to serve the Lord together. What she has been to me as a life companion and in my service in the church, words cannot express. The Lord has used her in a wonderful way. Her life is an open book that can be read by all. A very definite characteristic of her life was, that by the grace of God she lived a life where from radiated the love of God that filled her heart. Every one of the members of the church had a warm place in her great and loving heart. Constrained by the love of Christ she lived a self-forgetting, happy life of sacrifice for others. In all her suffering her sympathy went out to others thinking of them and inquiring about their well-being.

A great joy came into her life by the coming of our dear child into our home. All the love a mother's heart is capable of went out to her, and it was one of the severest tests of her life to leave her child behind at an age when the mother is so much needed. But by faith she committed also that unto the Lord, who will provide for her dear ones. The dear Lord has shed much joy and happiness upon her life in a manifold way, but according to His unsearchable wisdom and love she has also had a large share of suffering. She had to go through four major operations and one minor surgical treatment and has spent much time at the hospital. In March 1919, she had to have a gall stone operation, and again on Nov. 6, 1930, a very serious appendectomy, as the appendix was ruptured. But the Lord graciously carried her through and added another three and one-half years to her life. On October 1, 1932, another operation was necessary as carcinoma had developed, that dreaded, unconquered enemy of human health, the cause of so much suffering in our day. For some time it seemed that the operation had been successful and that the Lord would grant her full recovery, but she failed to regain her strength. About a year later more definite symptoms of her malady again appeared. She now soon realized that her days were numbered. Being so faithfully and tenderly devoted to her loved ones, it was at first hard for her to make herself accustomed to the thought of leaving them behind, but the dear Lord gave her the grace to rest fully in His will. A new season of suffering was ahead, but it was a victorious suffering. She was happy in the Lord, who was very near and precious unto her and His praise was upon her lips. Not once did she complain but took all things out of His loving hands. Not once did her faith waiver. Thus the days of her suffering were days of great blessing. The corner of the room where her bed stood was a place where God has revealed himself to us.