Stauffer, Irene Lehman (1899-1945)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1945 Mar 22 p. 3

Birth date: 1899 Dec 16

text of obituary:

MRS. EZRA STAUFFER

Irene Stauffer, nee Lehman, was born December 16, 1899, in Osceola county, Iowa and died in her home near Tofield, Alberta, on February 18, 1945, at 4:00 p.m., aged 45 years, two months and two days. She was the oldest child of Rev. and Mrs. J. K. Lehman. In 1901 her parents moved to Mayton, Alberta, where they were among the pioneers of that district. Here Irene grew to young girlhood.

In 1915 her parents moved to Hubbard, Oregon, taking their family with them. While living there, they worshipped with the Hopewell Mennonite congregation, where Rev. Lehman served as minister. About the spring of 1918 they returned to Mayton, Alberta, and shortly after that moved to the Tofield, Alberta, district, settling on a farm near Dodds.

In her youth, Irene accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour, uniting with the Mennonite church, of which she remained a faithful member until her death.

On August 20, 1920, she was united in marriage with Ezra Stauffer of Tofield. To this union were born two sons, Joseph Robert and James Leroy, and three daughters, Margaret Irene, Beulah Mary and Virginia Louise. Two daughters, Margaret and Virginia, preceded her in death.

Irene proved to be a faithful wife and mother in her home, being greatly interested in the work of the Lord and the church. She sacrificed herself in the interests of this type of work since her husband was absent from home the most part of the past ten winters engaged in teaching in bible schools.

For the past several year Mrs. Stauffer had been in failing health, suffering from high blood pressure which resulted in heart disease. She had a number of unusually heavy trials the past few years which she underwent with true Christian courage and fortitude. last fall she became seriously ill and spent six weeks in the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, during the middle of the winter. To ease the strain on her heart she underwent an operation for goitre, which to all appearances seemed to be remarkably successful. She often expressed a desire to get well and enjoy life with her family a little longer but was resigned to God's will. she seemed to be slowly recovering when without premonition or warning at 4:00 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, February 18, she suddenly passed from time to eternity within a few minutes in the presence of her family and her uncle, Menno Widemans, who were Sunday afternoon guests in the home. All were gathered around the table visiting and enjoying an exceptionally happy afternoon when the death messenger suddenly struck. For the first time in several months Mrs. Stauffer had attended church services, which she greatly enjoyed.

Her father, mother, one sister, Christinia, and her two daughters preceded her in death. She leaves to mourn her departure, her husband, two sons and one daughter, five brothers, Joseph, Alvin, Oliver, David and Melvin, and one sister, Mary, Mrs. Roy Roth, all of the Tofield community; also a host of relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held Thursday, February 22. it was a beautiful day and the Salem Mennonite church near Tofield was filled as a large assembly of friends and relatives gathered to pay their last respects to Mrs. Stauffer.

Services in the home were in charge of Rev. Paul Voegthin. Text: John, chp. 11 and 1 Thess. 4:13-18. Services at the church were opened by Rev. D. Brenneman of Creston, Montana. Bishop C. J. Ramer of duchess, Alta., preached the sermon. Text: 1 Thess. 5: 9-11. Bishop Ramer pointed out that God's creation is not complete without human personality and that death merely is a transition from this life into the next. Therefore whether we wake or sleep, we live together with Christ and should comfort ourselves with this hope. Graveside services were in charge of Bishop J. B. Stauffer. Interment was made in the Salem cemetery.

Beulah Stauffer, a daughter, is a sophomore at Hesston College, Hesston, Kans., where she is editor of this year's "Lark." Together with her cousin, Dr. J. James Brenneman of Moundridge, Kansas, she came home for the funeral services. After a few weeks' stay, however, she returned to Hesston to graduate from the junior college this year.

The husband, Ezra Stauffer, was an instructor during the Short Bible Term at Hesston College in January and February of 1944.

Most gladly, Mother dear, would we have kept you with us a while longer but we humbly bow to the will of Him doeth all things with infinite wisdom. We do rejoice in your being at home in Heaven, "absent from the body, present with the Lord." — Ezra Stauffer, Robert, Beulah and James.