Eitzen, Minnie Unruh (1879-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Oct 25 p. 8

Birth date: 1879 Oct 14

text of obituary:

MRS. PETER C. EITZEN

Mrs. Peter C. (Minnie) Eitzen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Unruh, was born near Hillsboro, Kansas on Oct. 14, 1879. She departed this life to be with her blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sept. 24, 1956, in the Home for the Aged at Reedley, Calif. She attained to the age of 76 years, 11 months and 10 days.

She spent her early childhood days in Kansas, and in her youth she moved with her parents to Fairview, Okla. The years of her formal education were few due to the pioneer circumstances. From early youth she had to work hard helping her parents to eke out a living on the farm.

In February 1895 she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and found cleansing and peace in the Blood of the Lamb. On April 14, 1895, she with others stepped into the baptismal waters in obedience to her Lord and master and was received into the fellowship of the Fairview Mennonite Brethren Church. She loved her Lord and the fellowship of the saints, helping along in church wherever she could.

On Oct. 26, 1899, she was united in holy wedlock with our father Peter C. Eitzen, at Fairview, Okla. This marriage was blessed with four children, one son and three dauhgters. One daughter died in infancy. Our parents were permitted to walk life's highway together for more than 55 years. They experienced many hardships and battles but the blessings they received from God by far outweighed them all.

In 1918 they moved to the Reedley community where they have lived to the end of their earthly pilgrimage. In Reedley they joined the fellowship of the local Mennonite Brethren Church and enjoyed the blessings and labors of the same.

Mother enjoyed relatively good health until July 17, 1950, when she suffered a paralytic stroke which left her a bedridden invalid the rest of her life. She spent three months in the Reedley Hospital and then was transferred to the Mennonite Brethren Home for the Aged in Reedley. She was in this home almost six years. She suffered much pain during this time, and the last few years she became blind. She had many severe battles due to her illness but she had also the grace to claim God's promises and rejoiced in the hope that soon she would be with the Lord.

On March 25 of this year her husband died suddenly. She grieved deeply over this loss and missed his visits very much. This intensified her deep longing to go to be with Christ.

Monday morning, Sept. 24, she felt relatively good and enjoyed a hearty noon meal. After the meal she asked the attendant to close her room door for she wanted to sleep. At 2:30 an attendant checked her room and found her sleeping soundly. A little later when they went back to her room they found that she had very quietly slipped from this life and entered the blessed rest of the Saints in the presence of Christ.

She was a wonderful mother to her family, caring for them most tenderly and brought them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. She interceded much for her children and grandchildren. We will miss her although we thank God that she has been relieved of all her sufferings. We are grateful to the personnel of the Home for the good and tender care they gave her.

She leaves to mourn her departure, three children, Ruby, Mrs. Arthur D. Enns of Altadena, Calif., Harry Eitzen of Temple City, Calif., and Lola, Mrs. Sam L. Heinrichs, Dinuba, Calif.; two sons-in-law; one daughter-in-law; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one brother, A. H. Unruh, Dinuba, Calif.; one sister, Mary, Mrs. Jake Bergthold of Reedley; and many other relatives and friends. — The Children.