Elma E. Esau
WHITEWATER -Elma E. Esau, 92, died Monday (Nov. 16, 2009) at
Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton.
She was born on Sept. 14, 1917, near Whitewater, the
daughter of Edward and Clara (Claassen) Esau (Edward was born at Hohendorf,
Saratov, Russia, and Clara was born near Potwin).
She was a lifelong member of Emmaus Mennonite Church. She
graduated from Whitewater High School in 1935. After high school, she attended
Bethel College in North Newton for two years.
Prior to World War II, she was a schoolteacher for two years
in Scott County and two years in Whitewater. She then went to work for the
Mennonite Central Committee as a refugee relief worker. She volunteered, worked
and lived in Europe, South America, Canada, the United States and Beirut,
Lebanon, until 1967.
She graduated in 1969, with a bachelor of arts degree in
history from Bethel College. She continued her work as a travel agent for
MCC/Menno Travel Service, leading tours to many places in the world from the
Akron, Pa., office until 1981.
She was affiliated with Akron Mennonite Church. She then
moved back with her VW squareback or wagon to her family's farm, living with
her brother Victor until 1991.
She then moved to Kidron Bethel Village. She was active in
the Remington Area Historical Society. She visited more than 70 countries and
was an artist, photographer, painter, woodworker, author, translator,
historian, lifelong student and teacher, storyteller, independent woman,
advocate of peace in the Middle East, and had a special love for Lebanon.
She was preceded in death by siblings Harold, Victor and
Ruth Marie Esau; two sisters-in-law; and two nieces.
She is survived by brothers Elbert (Zola) Esau of Newton and
Paul Esau of Jackson, Minn.; eight nieces and eight nephews; and many
grandnieces and nephews.
Inurnment will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Emmaus
Cemetery in Whitewater.
Memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Bethel College
Mennonite Church in North Newton.
Memorial funds have been established for Mennonite Central
Committee or Kauffman Museum in care of Lamb Funeral Home, P.O. Box 358,
Whitewater, KS 67154.
