Britsch, Bertha M. Wyse (1896-2002)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2002 Sep 30 p. 8

Birth date: 1896 Dec 4

text of obituary:

BERTHA M. BRITSCH

Bertha M. Britsch, 105, died Aug. 20, 2002, at Fairlawn Haven Nursing Home in Archbold, Ohio. She was the oldest resident ever to live at Fairlawn. She was born Dec. 4, 1896, to Christian J. and Magdalena (Stutzman) Wyse near Archbold.

On March 20, 1915, she married Lewis S. Britsch, with whom she shared 74 years until his death March 24, 1989.

From marriage until 1945, they lived on their farm near Pettisville. After retiring from farming, they spent two years in relief work in Europe under Mennonite Central Committee. For the next 20 years, they spent a part of each year with Mennonite Disaster Service and other voluntary service projects throughout the United States. They helped start Little Eden, a church-sponsored camp near Onekama, Mich. In August 1984 they moved to Fairlawn Apartments. She moved to the Fairlawn nursing home after her husband's death.

She was a member of Central Mennonite Church and was active in the work of the church. She was a person of faith and commitment to God, family and church.

Survivors include a daughter, Meredith Beck of Archbold; two daughters-in-law, Irene and Doris, both of Archbold; eight grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 42 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis; two sons, Olen and Dale; a grandson, Ronald Beck; two great-grandchildren, Ricky Beck and Lisa Beck; a great-great-grandchild, Nicholas Saldivar; five brothers, Simon, Edwin, William, Jefferson and Daniel Wyse; and five sisters, Ella Wyse, Emma Rupp, Amanda Rupp, Mary Short and Lavina Frey Pletcher.