BUNGER, Greitje 1865-1939

BUNGER, RUTER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/9/2012 at 11:19:10

Mrs. L. C. Bunger Is Called To Last Rest

Passed Away Last Sunday Evening, December 31st, After An Illness Of Many Months

More Than 74 Years Of Age

Had Spent The Bigger Part Of Her Life On The Farm Where She Died South Of Wellsburg

Mrs. L. C. Bunger, who for almost three-quarters of a century was a greatly respected resident of the Wellsburg vicinity passed away at her home one and one-half miles south of Wellsburg Sunday evening, December 31, 1939, after reaching an age of seventy-four years, three months and four days. She had been in failing health for the past two years, the immediate cause of her death being given as dropsy.

Mrs. L. C. Bunger, was born in Freeport, Illinois on September 27, 1865, and came to Grundy county with her parents when about two years old. Almost fifty two years ago she was united in marriage with Mr. Lambert C. Bunger, and was taken as a bride to the home where she lived continuously for more than a half century until the angel of death beckoned.

She leaves behind her husband, a son and a daughter, Aldrich and Jessie, both of whom live at home. A second son, Coert, died in camp during the first world war. Also left to mourn are three brothers, Eike Ruter, of Wellsburg; Ben Ruter, Of Kanawha and John Ruter, of Steamboat Rock; three sisters, Mrs. Just Sanders, Mrs. Peter H. Eckhoff and Helen Ruter; a number of nieces and nephews and a host of friends numbered only by those who knew her. She was of that sturdy stock who helped through hard work and perseverance to make the state of Iowa the grand state it is. She knew the long hours of toil which was the lot of the farm woman of fifty years ago; she knew the bitter disappointments that come to those who are trying to carve a livelihood from the earth with almost primitive tools; and through it all she found time to be a friend to all she knew, to comfort others in time of trouble, to rejoice with their successes; to merit the love, and honor, and respect of a whole community.

Funeral services will be held at the home at 12:30 o'clock, Thursday afternoon and immediately afterward at the Wellsburg Reformed church, with the Rev. Wm. Landsiedel in charge of the services. Burial will be made in the cemetery at the First Christian Reformed church, west of Wellsburg.

--Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 3 January 1940

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Funeral Services For Mrs. L. C. Bunger On Thursday

A large number of relatives and friends of Mrs. L. C. Bunger gathered at the Wellsburg Reformed church last Thursday afternoon to pay their final tribute to a good and true friend, a kind and loving mother and a faithful wife. The Rev. Wm. Landsiedel had charge of the services and used as his text Second Corinthians 5:1. He also spoke briefly at the First Christian Reformed Cemetery, where interment was made.

Pall bearers were all friends of many years standing: Ben Berends, Trieno Riekena, John Loger, Odie Olthoff, Andrew Olthoff and Jerry Lutterman.

Mrs. Greitje Bunger, nee Ruter, was born September 27th, 1865, near Freeport, Illinois. In 1866 she came with her parents to Grundy county, Iowa. Here she grew up to womanhood and was joined in holy wedlock with Mr. Lambert C. Bunger on March 1, 1888. They established their home on a farm in Shiloh township where she lived the rest of her life, and where by the providence of God she was privileged to commemorate her Golden anniversary; through these years the Lord granted them to share together life's joys and sorrows.

The Lord blessed their union with three chidldren, of whom their son, Coert, preceded the mother in death twenty-one years ago, when he became a victim of the last world war.

For the last fifteen years the Lord took her in the school of suffering, in which she had to submit to a serious operation after which she never enjoyed full restoration of health. She provided a patient sufferer and was thankful to Him who had suffered for her, and in whose strength she was able to bear her cross. As she loved and confessed Christ for her Savior, so she was prepared to meet her God. After all trials, suffering and strife, the Lord in His wisdom dissolved all loving ties, releasing her life from the earthly tabernacle on Sunday, December 31, at 5:20 p.m. She had reached the age of 74 years, 3 months and four days.

Beside the sorrow-stricken husband, her one daughter, Gepke, and one son, Aldrich, at home, mourn the loss of their dear Christian mother. She also leaves to mourn her death three brothers and five sisters--Eike Ruter, of Wellsburg, Iowa; Berend Ruter, of Kanawha, Iowa; John Ruter, of Steamboat Rock, Iowa; Imke, Mrs. Boyd Freiburg, of Renville, Minnesota; Hilke Ruter, of Wellsburg, Iowa; Fauke, Mrs. Boyd Eckhoff, of Wellsburg, Iowa; Aafke, Mrs. Peter Eckhoff, of Steamboat Rock, Iowa, and Gepke, Mrs. John Sanders, of West Bend, Iowa; and also a large circle of other relatives and friends. The congregation also, of whom she has been a faithful member will preserve her a kind and blessed memory.

May the God of all comfort bless, console and sustain all bereaved hearts with the soothing balm of his promise: "What I do ye know not now, but ye shall know in the hereafter." May He teach all of us earnestly to heed the brevity of life and to pray--"Lord, make me to know mine end that I may apply mine heart unto wisdom."

--Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 10 January 1940