Wiebe, Gertrude H. (1921-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Dec 30 p. 11

Birth date: 1921 Feb 25

text of obituary:

GERTRUDE H. WIEBE

"She was a beautiful person, inside and out." "She was my 'mother' in a strange country." "Her love and concern meant so much to me when I first came to Beatrice." "She let us make our own decisions, even though she was sometimes disappointed with our choices." "I loved her, she was a very special person." "She is the sweetest person, and so kind."

What more to we need to say about this life? These are but a few of the testimonies of her many young friends.

Gertrude H. Wiebe was born Feb. 25, 1921 at Beatrice, Neb. and died there on Nov. 28, 1971.

One of her outstanding traits was her interest in young people. She lived all of her life in the Beatrice vicinity, but she influenced and blessed the lives of countless people around the globe.

Her interest in young people was not limited to her own children and their friends; she met everyone with love and warmth. As far as Gertrude was concerned, there is no "generation gap." She didn't look for credentials or expect people to prove themselves before she could accept them. She gave each one the benefit of the doubt and loved them.

She had a deep faith in God, and was devoted to her church. She served the church in many capacities. She had a special interest in music, and loved to sing. The quartet in which she sang for many years brought joy and consolation on many memorable occasions.

Her marriage to John D. Wiebe was blessed with two sons and one daughter. Their marriage of 31 years is best described by this comment of a teenager at their 25th wedding anniversary: "They still act like newlyweds."

For more than ten years she worked as bookkeeper in the Mennonite Hospital, but she never looked at her job as "work"; it was an opportunity to serve, and a source of joy.

She accepted life, its joys as well as its sorrows, from the hand of God. During her illness she said, "If God wants me, I'm ready to go, but I'm still so young, and I'd love to stay with you for a while too." Even when her speech began to fail, and her pain became unbearable, the word "love" came from her lips often.

In the midst of a rich full life God called her. She will continue to be a source of inspiration and strength to her family, as well as to her many friends far and wide.

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The Mennonite obituary: 1972 Jan 4 p. 10

text of obituary:

Gertrude H. Wiebe, First Church, Beatrice, Neb., was born Feb. 25, 1921, and died Nov. 28.