Enns, Henry Balzer (1912-2006)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2006 May 8 p. 11

Birth date: 1912 Aug 2

text of obituary:

HENRY BALZER ENNS

Henry Balzer Enns, 93, of Toutle, Wash., died April 20, 2006, at Longview Community Home Health/ Hospice. He was born Aug. 2, 1912, to Henry H. and Katherine Balzer Enns at Hooker, Okla.

He graduated from Corn (Okla.) Bible Academy and Adams (Okla.) Public High School. In 1942 he earned a bachelor’s degree from Panhandle Agriculture & Mechanical College in Goodwell, Okla.

On Sept. 7, 1941, he married Ruby Bernice Reimer of Corn.

In 1946 they moved to Birch Bay, Wash. In 1950, he completed a bachelor’s degree and teaching credentials at Western Washington College of Education in Bellingham.

Arriving in Toutle in 1950, he taught at Toutle Lake High School for 25 years. After retirement from teaching, he and his wife, Ruby, enjoyed extensive travel, which took them throughout North and South America, often on volunteer mission projects. In 1979, he was a member of a mission tour to India and Bangladesh with Mennonite Central Committee.

Henry and Ruby Enns were founding and longtime members of Toutle Lake Community Bible Church, now Toutle Christian Fellowship. He was a founding member of the Toutle volunteer fire department. He was known for his woodworking skills. He built homes in the area and created furniture and other projects in his home woodshop. He taught special woodshop classes for Toutle Boy’s Ranch residents. Projects from his home shop were frequently donated to the Mennonite Central Committee relief sales in Washington and Oregon.

On July 24, 1997, he was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Ruby. Survivors include two sons, Paul Enns and his wife, Mary Anne, of Lancaster, Calif., and Nelson Enns of Seattle, Wash.; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held at Toutle Christian Fellowship. Funeral services were provided by Columbia Funeral Service of Longview.