Warkentine, Elizabeth Hooge Dyck (1872-1966)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1966 May 27 p. 19

Birth date: 1872 Jul 04

text of obituary:

ELIZABETH WARKENTINE

Funeral services were held on Easter Sunday, April 10, in the Mennonite Brethren Church at Winkler, Man., for Mrs. Elizabeth Hooge Dyck Warkentine who went to be with her Lord on April 6, at 12:45 a.m. at the age of 93 years, 9 months, and 2 days. She was a faithful member of the Winkler MB Church for 70 years.

Officiating at the service was the Rev. H. Lenzmann who spoke on Acts 4:12 and the Rev. G. D. Pries who based his German message on 2 Timothy 4:7. A group sang "I am a Pilgrim", and "Lead me gently Home", while a grandson, Murray Enns and Mrs. P. D. Wiebe sang, "Ich werde kein Fremdling dort sein." Pallbearers were six grandsons: Dr. Dennis Giesbrecht, Murray Enns, George Enns, Howard Welsh, Harold Dyck and Peter Dyck.

Mrs. Warkentine immigrated to America with her parents in 1877. After a few years at Brainerd, Minnesota they moved to Manitoba, Canada. In 1895 she opened her heart to the Lord, was baptized the following year and accepted into the fellowship of the Winkler MB Church, together with her husband Isaac Dyck. Her marriage to Isaac, a widower with six children, had taken place in 1892.

Together they had 13 children in all, 8 daughters and 5 sons. Four children predeceased her. In 1932 her husband passed away and the following year she married John Warkentine with whom she enjoyed 17 years of companionship.

Her failing eyesight forced her to move to the Salem Home in Winkler, in 1959. As long as her health permitted she attended the church services and prayer meetings regularly. Friends knew her as a courageous, active, praying mother. She enjoyed participation in the prayer groups that were conducted by Mrs. H. S. Voth in the Salem Home and was engaged in various forms of arts and crafts that she had learned after her eyesight failed. Her abiding sense of humor was always enjoyed by her visitors.

She looked forward to seeing her Redeemer face to face and often seemed impatient at having to tarry so long here on earth. Her example will surely encourage all who knew her to fight the good fight, to finish the course, and to keep the faith.

After a third stroke, she passed away, and leaves to mourn six daughters, three sons, and many grandchildren, relatives and friends. She experienced tender love and devotion from the children of her husbands first marriage as well as those added later through the marriage with Rev. Warkentine.