Dueck, Elizabeth Thimm (1874-1951)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Dec 27 p. 9

Birth date: 1874 Oct 15

text of obituary:

MRS. ELIZABETH DUECK

Mrs. Elisabeth (Thimm) Dueck was born at Zeiers Vorder Kampen, West Prussia, on Oct 15, 1874 and came to America with her parents at the age of four years, settling at Mount Pleasant, Iowa. In 1877 the family located at Beatrice, Nebraska.

She was baptized upon her confession of faith in Christ on Pentecost, 1891 and received into the fellowship of the Mennonite church near Beatrice.

On March 29, 1894 she was united in marriage with John J. Dueck. In 1898 she with her husband and family came to California and located first in the Adelaide area near Paso Robles, where they engaged in farming. She then with her husband became a charter member of the San Marcus Mennonite church. In 1905 her husband was chosen as a deacon in the church and served in that capacity until his death Oct 6, 1937. Due to ill health he was unable to serve actively the last few years.

She maintained an active interest in the community and the church, attending services regularly. She was especially interested in the work of the women’s missionary society, working with her hands to bring cheer and encouragement to someone. She was always ready to render help to any who were in need of assistance in time of illness. It was her expressed wish that she might help others and might be taken home without a long illness and helplessness. Her last concerns were to add Christmas cheer and joy to those hear to her heart. Only moments before her death she was busy making preparations for Christmas which proved to be a partially uncompleted piece of work.

On her table was found a clipping of the Hymn “Shall We Gather at the River” with the story of how it came to be written.

She was fatally injured on Dec. 5 while riding with her daughter when a car entering a through street from the left, failed to stop, colliding first with a car in the left lane of traffic, then striking the car in which she was riding. It was found that a fractured rib had pierced her lung, causing almost instant death.

She was the mother of 10 children, two of which had preceded her in death; also one grandson preceded her in death. At the age of 77 years and 50 days she leaves to mourn her sudden passing, eight children, three daughters and five sons, namely: Helen, Mrs. John W. Claassen; Margaret, Mrs. Henry Dyck, of Paso Robles, and Martha, Mrs. Marion Champ of Sacramento, Calif.; Frank, John P., Gerhard, William, and Frederick, all of the Paso Robles area. Also three sisters: Mrs. Henry Claassen, Mrs. Margaret Bergman.

The Mennonite obituary: 1952 Jan 15 p. 47