Erlene R. Unruh
1929 - 2021
Erlene R. Unruh, 91, of Goessel,
Kansas, passed away January 8, 2021 at Bethesda Home in Goessel.
Erlene was born in Goessel on July 27, 1929 to Jacob A. and Helen
(Schmidt) Boese. She and her three sisters were raised on a farm just
outside of Goessel and she often talked about the fun times she and
her sisters had on the farm. She loved her family very much and
admitted numerous times to being a "daddy's girl". She
spent her educational years in the Goessel schools and her college
years at Bethel College.
Erlene and Bob were married August 16,
1950 and spent most of their married life in the Goessel and Newton
area, except for a brief time in Denver, Colorado, where they did
service and voluntary work at Denver General Hospital.
Erlene was a very talented artist,
which resulted in her employment as a color artist for Schmidt
Photography in Goessel, and Jim Stucky Photographics in Newton.
Their retirement years were spent
traveling, taking bicycle rides together, attending Bethel College
Life Enrichment programs and just generally enjoying spending time
with family, friends and each other. Erlene is survived by her son,
Doug J. Unruh of Newton; daughter, Laurie Pitzer of Anniston,
Alabama; two grandsons, Kelly Unruh of Irvine, California, and Chris
Unruh of San Jose, California; daughter-in-law, Susan Unruh, also of
San Jose, California; sisters, Esther (Lester) Schmidt and Meribeth
(Rannie) Schmidt from the Goessel area; and many nieces and nephews
that she loved very much.
Erlene was preceded in death by her
husband, Robert C. Unruh; son, Eric Unruh; and sister, Verda (Dayton)
Wedel.
A celebration of life service for both
her and Bob will be announced and take place at a later date.
Private family inurnment will take
place at Tabor Mennonite Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made
to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in care of Miller-Ott Funeral
Home, PO Box 96, Goessel, KS 67053.
