Willems, Elisabeth Klaassen (1877-1964)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1964 Apr 23 p. 5

Birth date: 1877 Oct 19

text of obituary:

. . .

• Mrs. Elisabeth Willems, 86, widow of Henry D. Willems and a long-time resident of the Inman community, died April 17 at Mercy Hospital in Moundridge. Services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Zoar M. B. Church, Inman. She leaves a large family of descendants.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1964 Oct 15 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. ELIZABETH [SIC ELISABTH] WILLEMS

Mrs. Elizabeth {sic Elisabeth] Willems was born Oct. 19, 1877, at Buhler, Kan. She peacefully passed away at Mercy Hospital in on April 17, 1964, after an illness of four and one-half months. She reached the age of 86 years, five months, and 29 days.

She was the daughter of Elder Jacob Klaassen and Margaret Driedger Klaassen, and was a lifelong resident of the Inman-Buhler community.

At the age of 16 mother realized her lost condition and through repentance and faith received Christ as her personal Saviour. Upon confession of her faith in Christ she was baptized by her father and received into the fellowship of the Zoar K. M. B. Church. Here she remained a faithful member until her death.

She was united in marriage with Henry D. Willems on July 12, 1896. They shared the joys and sorrows of life for over 48 years. He was taken from her by an accident which caused his death on Oct. 2, 1944. To this union were born seven sons and four daughters. One son, two daughters, and five grandchildren preceded her in death.

Her life was filled with much joy and happiness, but she was not spared the testing of her faith; the years of caring for a physically handicapped daughter, the untimely passing of father, and later the tragic death of her oldest son. But concerning these and other trials, she wrote, “Yes, we experienced severe testings, but the Lord Jesus was always near. Again and again He provided strength and grace to endure.”

Her devotion to her church was a source of inspiration to all of us. She found great joy in her family and some of her happiest moments were when members of th family would come to visit her. Her prayers for us will be greatly missed.

She is survived by six sons, Henry and wife Marie, Isaac and wife Anna, Peter and wife Kathryn, Aaron and wife Clara, Ben and wife Mary, David and wife Lydia; two daughters, Katherine and husband Arnold Friesen, Mary and husband Elias Klassen; and Elizabeth, Mrs. J. H. Willems; 29 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends. — The Family.

GRANDMA #6967 Elisabeth Klassen