Lela Rose Goertz
Obituary
Lela Rose Goertz, 84, of St. James, Missouri, died Sunday,
Dec. 14, 2014, at her home.
She was born Aug. 28, 1930, in the Steinbach community to
Edmund S. Agatha (Schmidt) Hiebert. She attended school at Steinbach for eight
years, at Goessel High School, Goessel, the next four years, and attended one
year at Grace Bible Institute in Omaha, Nebraska.
She was united in marriage to Richard Raymond Goertz on
April 7, 1953, at the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. They lived on the farm
near Walton until 1979, when they sold the farm and went into training for
missionary work with New Tribes Mission. They served as support missionaries in
the Philippines for a total of 13 years after which they retired to Council
Bluffs, Iowa. Then, in 2007, they moved with a daughter and family to St.
James, Missouri.
Lela loved her Savior, Jesus Christ, and shared the good
news of salvation with many. She spent many summers teaching young children in
Daily Vacation Bible School. She also loved all kinds of handwork and spent
much time making quilts for her granddaughters and afghans for her grandsons.
Lela Goertz is survived by her husband: Richard of the home;
daughters: Rose Penner and husband, Jay of St. James, Missouri, Carol Kane and
husband, Keith of Big Sandy, Texas, Rachel Hansen and husband, Peter of
Bellevue, Nebraska, and Linda Johnson and husband, Paul of New Hartford, Iowa;
son: Alan Goertz and wife, Judy of Underwood, Iowa; 27 grandchildren and seven
great-grandchildren; one brother: John and Emmalyn Hiebert of Beatrice,
Nebraska; one sister: Anna Mae Janzen of Hesston; sister-in-law: Bettye Hiebert
of Halstead; two half-sisters: Mary Richert and husband, Jake of Hillsboro, and
Susan Voth and husband, Irvin of Goessel; and one half-brother: Henry Dueck and
wife, Eileen of Show Low, Arizona.
Preceding Lela Goertz in death were her parents: Edumnd S.
and Agatha Schmidt Hiebert.
The family received friends Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Jones
Funeral Home.
Funeral services were Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at the Jones
Funeral Home Chapel in St. James, Missouri, with Pastor Alex Busenitz
officiating. Pallbearers were: Nathan Kane, David Hansen, Hans Hansen, Luke
Johnson, Layne Goertz and Mattias Penner. Honorary Pallbearers were: Samuel
Kane, Andrew Kane, Karl Hansen, Daniel Hansen, Steffan Hansen, Caleb Hansen,
Seth Johnson and Silas Johnson. Burial was at the Morrison Cemetery at
Whispering Winds Bible Camp, near Cook Station, Missouri.
Memorials are suggested to New Tribes Mission and Bible
Impact Ministries.
All arrangements are under the direction of the Jones
Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri.
