RUST, Swantje 1861-1928

RUST, PATERNA

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/14/2012 at 22:00:45

Mrs. Harm Rust Died Sunday Eve

Mrs. Harm Rust died last Sunday evening, February 5, after a long period of suffering with an affection of one of her limbs, which had made her a semi-invalid during the latter part of her life.

The funeral was held at the Wellsburg Reformed church at 2 o'clock on Thursday, after a short service at the home in Wellsburg. The services were in charge of the pastor, Rev. Wm. Landsiedel, who took his text from the fifth verse of Psalm 126: "They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy."

The pall-bearers were as follows: Wm. Lindaman, W. E. Knock, W. S. Meyer, C. J. Schmidt, Christ Neessen, John Riebkes.

Obituary

Mrs. Swantje Rust, born Paterna, was born January 7, 1861, in Campen, Ostfriesland, Germany. In the spring of the year 1883, she came to this country, making her home the first year with different families at household tasks, in Wellsburg. The following year she was united in holy wedlock to Harm Rust, on March 24, 1884, and they established their home on the farm two miles southeast of Wellsburg. By the grace of God they shared life's burdens, and joys and sorrows together for nearly forty-four years. Their wedded life was blessed with five children, of whom one daughter--Mrs. Gerhart Nabor--preceded her in death seven years ago.

In divine providence, being a patient sufferer for the last twenty years, they decided to move off the farm, where she toiled and labored hard all her lifetime, to live and enjoy the fruits of their labor in well deserved quietness and rest.

But these ten years of earthly rest proved to be an uninterrupted chain of God's loving affliction for her, ? which her faithful companion tenderly shared her cross day by day. She learned to suffer without murmur. Her pastor surely witnessed the fact that her will was resigned to God's will and that no complaint ever escaped her lips against her appointed lot. It was her continued motto "God's will done--is well done." Yes, this was indeed according to the Scripture: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love god" How gladly would she have attended the house of worship!

But as her suffering would not permit her to do so, we enjoyed many an hour of devotion together under supplication and tears at her home. Here in quiet the Lord prepared her and under his affliction she matured a fruitful sheaf for the heavenly harvest. Already last fall her health seemed to fail, her condition growing steadily weaker. Shortly before Christmas a severe cold attacked her, which became very alarming, necessitating medical attention.

Though the Lord in His wisdom had planned differently to release the tired pilgrim from her earthly journey. The very thought occupied her keen mind and faithful heart during the last week of her suffering, so comfortably that three days before her departure she confessed: "pastor, without a Jesus this world is nothing. Would to God that we all were in heaven already."

Thus it has pleased Almighty God to end her suffering last Sunday evening, February 5th, and to transfer her yearning soul into the heavenly mansions above.

She kept the faith--fought the good fight--finished the course and may now see Him face to face, the loving desire of her soul while here.

She reached the age of 67 years and 29 days. Since the year 1919 she was a faithful member of our church, and had the welfare of the same always at her heart. The host of friends who learned to know and love the deceased will sorely lament her loss and preserve her kind and faithful memory. To the sorely afflicted husband and father, and also to the sorrowing children for whom she unceasingly offered prayers, and so in tears her loss will be irreparable. May the Lord assuage their sorrowing hearts and bind up their aching wounds.

Besides her grieving husband, one daughter, one and three sons survive the deceased.

These are Reitje, Mrs. H. Penning, Holland, Iowa; Hinderk, Aise and Harm Rust, Wellsburg. Two brothers, Remmer Paterna, Sibley, Iowa, John Paterna, Wellsburg and twelve grandchildren also are left to mourn.

--Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 8 February 1928