Leah Kathleen Van Derwerker
Leah Kathleen Van Derwerker, 99, passed away Wednesday
(Sept. 9, 2009). She was born on Christmas Day 1909 to Jerry and Pansy Goodrich
in Warrensburg, N.Y. She was sickly as a newborn and not expected to live, but
the family was encouraged by her grandmother, and she lived to be 99 years and
9 months old. She had an older sister, Gladys, and four younger brothers,
Donald, Clifton, Paul and Robert. Robert is her only living sibling of
Pineville, Ore. 'Kay' married Paul Van Derwerker of Schuylerville, N.Y., on
Dec. 29, 1938. He survives of Bethesda Home in Goessel. She also is survived by
daughter, Jeri Schrag and husband, Tom, of Hesston; son, Joe Van Derwerker and
wife, Claire, of Schenectady, N.Y.; four grandchildren; and four
great-grandchildren.
Kay accepted Christ as her personal Savior in 1957 at the
age of 42, having understood her need for a Savior for the first time through a
fellow teacher. She taught nine years in rural schools in New York state after
receiving her education degree from Buffalo State Teachers College in New York.
After her children were in school, she taught again for 19 years before her
retirement. She was especially known for her phonics teaching and loved to
teach children to read. She was a lifetime member of the New York State Retired
Teachers' Association Inc.
She and Paul learned sign language and visited and led many
hearing impaired people to the Lord in their retirement years as well as other
relatives and people through visitation. Kay was a well-loved teacher and
taught Sunday school in churches they attended, spending most years in the
Lynnwood Reformed Church in Schenectady. After retirement, Paul and Kay moved
to Sarasota, Fla., where they enjoyed some 30 years.
When Kay was 95, she had a fall and head injury requiring
surgery and moved to Schowalter Villa in Hesston, where her daughter could
oversee her care. Paul sold the home and followed her there. They enjoyed
four-and-a-half more years together and a total of almost 71 years of married
life before God called her home to be with Him.
She will be missed by family, friends and caregivers. Those
of us who know the Lord Jesus as our Savior look forward to being with her
someday in heaven.
We are thankful to Schowalter Villa, Bethesda Home, Hospice
Care of Kansas and Newton Bible Church for their loving care in her final years
and days. Memorials may be made to any of these.
Memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Schowalter
Villa, 200 W. Cedar in Hesston.
Online condolences may be offered at www.hillside
funeralhomeeast.com.
