Balzer, Elizabeth Kornelsen (1901-1966)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1966 Dec 8 p. 5

Birth date: 1901 January 2, Henderson, Nebraska
Date of Death: 1966 December 4, Kansas

text of obituary:

. . .

• Word has been received from Hillsboro that Mrs. P. V. Balzer, 66, who served as a missionary of the Mennonite Brethren Church in India for 30 years, died unexpectedly Sunday morning in her home there. She had been under a doctor's care. Her husband, Rev. Balzer, found her lifeless body at the home when he returned from morning church services. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. The Balzers, who had no children, retired from the mission field some years ago. Mrs. Balzer was a native of Henderson, Neb. Besides her husband, she leaves three brothers and three sisters.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1966 Dec 29 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. PETER V. BALZER

Mrs. Elizabeth Balzer was born on Jan. 2, 1901 to Gerhard and Maria Wiens Kornelsen at Henderson, Neb. She attended elementary and secondary schools there. In her youth she came to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and was received into the Henderson Mennonite Brethren Church. She also attended Tabor academy in Hillsboro, graduating in 1921.

On Jan. 1, 1922, she was married to Peter V. Balzer, and this began a loving relationship that extended for almost 45 years. During the first year of our marriage and after a three-month evangelistic tour in Canda [sic Canada], we both taught public school at Balko, Okla.

Our hearts and lives had been committed to the work of Christ and Christian service and after being ordained as missionaries, we proceeded to the land of India in 1923. During the many years spent there my wife spent her life in dedicated service to the Indian people, particularly to the women and their needs. Many of them were won to Christ through her witness and labors. Children also were taken into our home and she became a mother to them. After four terms of service we returned to the United States last 1961, but our hearts remained in India.

After spending almost a year in Buhler, Kan., we moved to Hillsboro in 1962. She suffered from a severe heart condition for many months, and spent some weeks in the hospital. She continued active as long as she could particularly in teaching Sunday school but gradually was forced to lay down active tasks. On Sunday morning Dec. 4, 1966, after having begun preparations for our noon meal she quickly departed this life and went to be with Him who had redeemed her. She reached the age of 65 years, 11 months and two days.

Preceding her in death were two sisters. Surviving are the following brothers and sisters: John Kornelsen, Reedley, Calif., Mary, Mrs. C. F. Harder, George G. Kornelsen, and Helen, Mrs. D. D. Ratzlaff, all of Hillsboro, Jake Kornelsen, Wheaton, Ill., Sarah, Mrs. Harry Neufeld, Fresno, Calif., as well as many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends, and a host of people in India, whom she loved and who loved here. Rev. P. V. Balzer.

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MLA Personal Photos Collection

Biographical note:
Henderson, Hebraska
Daughter of Gerhard and Maria (Wiens) Kornelson
Married Peter V. Balzer 1922, Henderson, Nebraska. (wife 1)
Missionary (M.B.) -- India 1923-61

Bethel alumni note:

Photo holdings:
See Peter V. Balzer (1891-1985) for photo with husband

Sources:
MWR 12/8/1966 p. 5, 12/29/1966 p. 8
Grandma Profile #31405
Find A Grave 9501321