Rutschman, Lizzie A. Zuercher (1881-1949)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Oct 6 p.5

Birth date: 1881 Dec 11

text of obituary:

— Mrs. Lizzie Rutschman, 67, a resident of the Whitewater community for 65 years, passed away at the Bethel Deaconess hospital on Sept 27. Funeral services were held at the Swiss Mennonite church of Whitewater last Friday afternoon, Rev. Ted Roth officiating. Mrs. Rutschman was the youngest child of the late Mr. and Mrs. Peter Zuercher, who migrated here from Switzerland. She leaves four children, Henry of Longview, Texas, Rev. Laverne Rutschman of Cachipay, Colombia, Mrs. Evelyn Langenegger of Elbing, and Mrs. Jeanette Isaacs of Los Angeles.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Oct 27 p. 6

text of obituary:

MRS. LIZZIE RUTSCHMAN

Mrs. Lizzie A. Rutschman, daughter of Peter and Elisa Hofer Zuercher, was born in Langnaw [sic Langnau], Switzerland, Dec, 11, 1881, and passed away on Sept 27, 1949.

When but one and one-half years of age her parents came to America with four other children, she being the youngest of the five. They settled on the farm one mile east and one-half mile north of Whitewater, Kans.

Immediately after their arrival in this community her parents found fellowship in the Emmaus Mennonite church for a short time, then, under the leadership of Rev. Christian Rich, a group of the early pioneers, mostly teacher and C. E. worker, as well from Switzerland, organized into a body which became known as the Swiss Mennonite church. First they worshipped in homes and school houses, and in 1890 the little church was built. Mother took the first opportunity offered her and became a member of this group.

Because of pioneer hardships and deprivations, educational opportunities were limited and those with talent and a sacrificial mind were sought out and their talents employed. So it was that from her girlhood days, because of her devotion to the Cause of Christ, she was pressed into loving service, as custodian of the church, Sunday school as assisting in the choir.

On October 1, 1903, she was married to David H. Rutschman. This happy union was blessed with seven children. She was privileged to see all of her children grow to young manhood and young womanhood but her life was not all sunshine. God saw fit to keep the refining fires burning. In 1932, because of critical illness, she had to leave her family and go to Savanah [sic Savannah], Mo., for treatment. God undertook in her behalf and she was definitely healed.

During these years her children were growing up and several had unusual talents. They were excellent singers and were talented and trustworthy workers. She was justly proud and thankful that her efforts were being rewarded in the lives of her family. As the sunshine is broken by sudden and unwelcome storms, so the unwelcome death angel came suddenly on May 31, 1937, and took the lives of two sons, Orrin and Pete, in an automobile accident while they were on a singing mission. Orrin left a wife and baby daughter.

Again on July 25, 1946, death came to another son, Waldo, and took him from home, leaving a wife and five children. Thus the refining fires burned on.

Her joy knew no bounds when LaVerne, the youngest son, prepared for and entered the missionary field. Although she felt keenly the pain of separation and was aware that possibly she would never see him again in the flesh, she encouraged him to take the “glad tidings” of Christ to a lost people regardless of the cost in tears, loneliness and sacrifice. She had learned to live for others, her children and grandchildren, church, community and as far as prayer and sacrifice, which knows no bounds, can reach. Hers was the lot of a “Mother in Israel.”

She became seriously ill very suddenly about two-thirty Sunday morning and was taken to the Bethel Deaconess hospital at Newton where after an emergency operation on Sunday afternoon, her faith became sight on Tuesday morning at 2:40, when she passed away quietly to join with the redeemed in Glory.

She leaves to mourn her departure, her grief stricken husband, two sons, Henry of Longview, Texas, and LaVerne of Colombia, South America; two daughters, Mrs. Fred Langenegger of Elbing, Kansas, and Mrs. Frank Isaac of Los Angeles, Calif.: four daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, sixteen grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Jake Dirks of Halstead, Mrs. Ernest Langenegger and Mrs. Charles Miltner of Wichita; seven brothers, John of Harper, Kansas, Charles, of Benton, Kansas, Ernest, Arnold and Walter of Whitewater, Sam of Wichita, and Pete of Macksville, Kansas, besides a host of sorrowing friends.

Funeral services were held at the home Friday afternoon at 1:45 with Rev. A. J. Dirks of Halstead, brother-in-law of Mrs. Rutschman, conducting the service, and at the Swiss Mennonite church at 2:30, with Rev. Ted Roth, pastor, in charge. He was assisted by Rev. Walter H. Dyck of Emmaus church, who read as a Scripture lesson the texts used for the many funerals of members of the family of Mrs. Rutschman in the past twenty-five years when Rev. Roth has officiated.

The Mennonite obituary: 1949 Oct 25 p. 11