Margaret Witmer 1867-1945

WITMER, SCHMOEKER, ALTENBERN, SHELLABARGER, GROSS

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 8/15/2016 at 09:47:46

30 August 1945 - The Tipton Advertiser

Funeral service was held at the Griffith funeral home at Wilton at 2:00 o'clock and at Trinity Evangelical Reformed church at 2:30 Friday afternoon for Mrs. Margaret Witmer who passed away Wednesday a.m. Aug. 22 at the home of her son LeRoy north of Wilton. Rites were in charge of Rev. J. M. Newgard with interment being made beside her husband at the Healy cemetery. The music was furnished by Mrs. Everett Chamberlain and Mrs. George Frasuer of Tipton, Mrs. Chas. Crawford accompanist.

Margaret Witmer, daughter of Carl and Mary Schmoeker Altenbern, was born near New Era, in Sweetland township, Muscatine county, Ia., November 7, 1867 and departed from this life at 11:00 o'clock Wednesday Aug. 22, 1945, when the Silent Messenger touched her gently as she lay resting in her room at the home of her son Leroy, near Tipton.

Of her immediate family 4 brothers preceded her in death. Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Mary Shellabarger of Muscatine, Ia., and Mrs. Dora Gross of Hallein, Neb.

Her girlhood was spent in the New Era vicinity and as a young woman she spent some time at Wilton, Ia., where she was employed at the college, then flourishing in that town.

July 3, 1900, she became the wife of William Richard Witmer and they established a home on a farm near the Cedar river. Later they bought the farm which was their home the remainder of their years together, and from the corner of which the ground was taken for the erection of Trinity Church. Mr. and Mrs. Witmer gave much time and devotion to the maintenance of this church and to its work. They retained their membership at Trinity throughout their lives. They were the parents of two sons, H. Leroy of Tipton and Robert L. of West Branch, who with their wives and the grandchildren, Richard, Shirley Gale and Phyllis Ann Witmer, mourn the loss of a loved and loving mother and grandmother. For a few years, too, Mr. and Mrs. Witmer had the care of two nephews, Webster and Curtis Altenbern, to whom she gave thoughtful teaching and the maternal love shared by her two sons.

Mr. Witmer died August 14, 1934, and since then Mrs. Witmer has resided with her sons and their families. While her life was one of busy occupation, she was ever appreciative of all the finer things. Her hands were never idle for long, but her mind reached out to absorb the beautiful and the inspiring things which others had to offer. She had a genius for friendship and in her quiet way demonstrated the fact that it is indeed more blessed to give than to receive. No one can measure the kindnesses which she did. Deeply religious, she lived her faith so naturally that it was by example rather than by precept she shared her beliefs. Perhaps the meaning of immortality is somewhat revealed in the memories of many who knew her and of those who loved her best.