Britsch, Irene M. Wyse (1914-2008)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2008 Jun 23 p. 21

Birth date: 1914 Sep 10

IRENE M. WYSE BRITSCH

Irene M. Wyse Britsch, 93, of Archbold, Ohio, died May 31, 2008, at Fairlawn Haven. She was born Sept. 10, 1914, to William M. and Dinah (Roth) Wyse near Archbold.

She began work at the Archbold Ladder Factory as a teenager and later enjoyed the friendship of Olen Britsch, who worked in the office at the factory. They were married Nov. 25, 1937, at Central Mennonite Church of Archbold.

In August 1943, while Olen was in a Civilian Public Service camp at Sidling Hill, Pa., she lived with her sister Stella in Sarasota, Fla. In the fall of 1944, they moved to Malcolm, Neb., where Olen was the business manager for a CPS camp. They returned to Archbold in April 1946.

She was a homemaker. She raised their children, enjoying gardening, reading, quilting, entertaining and volunteering. She read through the Bible every year. She taught summer Bible school and Sunday school to children and adults, primarily at Bancroft Mennonite Church (now Toledo Mennonite), which she and Olen helped plant and where they attended for more than 30 years.

Her volunteer work included Fulton County Health Center, Meals on Wheels, Bancroft Mennonite Church, Zion Mennonite Church, Fulton County Cancer Society, Fairlawn Haven, Little Eden Camp and the Gideons. She generously supported Mennonite organizations.

She enjoyed travel, taking trips to Africa, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Hong Kong, Canada, Puerto Rico, the British Isles and Hawaii. Many trips were related to Olen’s involvement in Mennonite Economic Development Associates.

Survivors include a son, Calvin Britsch and his wife, Cheryl, of Archbold; a daughter, Maretta Buller and her husband, Arlin, of North Newton, Kan.; four sisters, Stella Crossgrove, Lucille Crossgrove and Marjorie Nafziger, all of Archbold, and Lodema Nafziger of Pettisville; three sisters-in-law, Lorraine Wyse, Meredith Beck and Doris Britsch, all of Archbold; and five grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Olen, in 1978; and by a brother, Wilbur Wyse.

Memorial services were held at Zion Mennonite Church of Archbold. Burial was in Pettisville Cemetery.