Mary (Neal) Busenburg (1863-1948)

NEAL, BUSENBURG, ROEBUCK, BRITTENBENDER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:14

From Nevada Evening Journal July 3, 1948 (page 4)

Final Rites For Mary Busenburg At Iowa Center

Funeral services for Mary E. Busenburg, widow of the late Rev. D. C. Busenburg, were held Thursday afternoon at the Iowa Center church with the Rev. Walters of Nevada in charge of the services.

The Rev. Fitz of the Maxwell Methodist church read the scripture and led in prayer and the Rev. Brower of the Friends church read the obituary and spoke words of appreciation of the departed.

The casket bearers were Emmit Scott, Beard Sesker, Virgil Swarms, Foss Allen, Tom Morrison and Jim Beal.

Mrs. Alice Gooden sang three beautiful numbers.

Burial was in the Iowa Center cemetery.

Obituary

Mary E. Neal, was the daughter of John N. and Martha Neal, and was born in Marion county, Iowa, July 1, 1863.

When ten years of age, her mother in Attica, Marion county, four children of which she was the oldest, and for a few year she kept hours for her father and cared for the children in the home. Early in life she was sent out into the world to earn her own support, left without the council of mother to guide and direct in life and compelled to cope with the world alone.

On January 27, 1886, she was united in marriage to D. C. Busenburg at the home of her grandmother in Attica, Marion county, Iowa, and began housekeeping on the farm of the groom's father near Knoxville, Iowa. To this union three children were born, Loran Earl and John Wesley, who died in infancy, and Van Orval, who survives.

She followed her husband in all the changes of the intineracy, first to Kansas, then to Iowa, to Lucas county, Pottawatamie county, Shelby county, Union county and back to Marion county.

She has worked among the children and with the young people serving the church as Sunday School superintendent, K.L.C.E. president, and W.M.S. president. She organized a W.M.S. at Taylor and one at Harlan; she organized Juniors at Harlan and Afton, Mission bands and Harlan and Afton and a Y.P.M.C. at Afton, a K.L.C.E. at Harland and at Valley on the Knoxville work.

She was an enthusiastic missionary worker and delighted to interest the children in the work of missions.

She was converted while young in years and believed in children coming to Christ. As a personal worker in and out of the public congregation, she was a decided success. Everywhere she made friends and was loved most by those who know her best.

She had but small advantage in schooling, attending only the country school; however, her spiritual qualifications were of the best and she lived a conscientious Christian life.

For a period of nearly forty years she served with her husband in active work of the ministry, retiring in 1930 and moving to Maxwell to be near their son. In 1935 Rev. Busenburg passed on to be with his God. During recent years she has enjoyed worshipping and fellowship with folks of the Church of the Brethren in Maxwell.

On January 3, 1948, she fell and fractured her hip, and since that time she had been a very patient sufferer in the Woodland Nursing home in Des Moines, where she passed on to be with God on June 28, 1948 at 8:00 p.m. at the age of 84 years, 11 months, and 27 days.

She leaves to mourn her passing one son, Van, of Maxwell; one sister, Jane Roebuck; two half sisters, Mrs. Anna Brittenbender and Miss Maggie Neal and one half brother, Pearle Neal, all of Knoxville, and a host of relatives and friends.