Lillian Heinrichs
Funeral services for Lillian Heinrichs, 95, Corn resident, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 25, 2015, in the Corn Mennonite Brethren Church, officiated by Rev. Tim Sandy and Rev. Ken Gardner.
Burial will conclude in the Corn Cemetery under the direction of Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home in Clinton.
The family will greet guests at the funeral home from 7 until 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 24, 2015.
Lillian Margaret Janzen was born to John and Katie Peters Janzen on Nov. 2, 1919, the fourth of 10 children. She entered her heavenly home on July 16, 2015, at the age of 95.
Lillian and her family lived on a farm northwest of Corn, Okla. She attended the OK Grade School and later Clinton High School. When she was a teenager, the family moved to California for a short time and later returned to Corn.
Lillian and her sister, Mildred, were real close and played together a lot as children. The close relationship continued into their married lives when their two families often got together for ice cream — made from real cream from their cows. Often her sisters, Edna and Marge, and their families, joined in these get-togethers.
The family attended the Bergthal Mennonite Church and later joined the Corn Mennonite
Brethren Church. She accepted the Lord as her personal Savior and was baptized on Aug. 4, 1938 and joined the Corn Mennonite Brethren Church. She met Abe Warkentin at church, and they were married on Sept. 15, 1940. They settled northwest of Corn for several years, spent a few months living in Corn and later moved to Abe’s home place southwest of Corn where they farmed.
They had four sons: Walden, born in 1942; Rollen Don, born in 1944; Harold, born in 1948; and Leland, born in 1957.
Lillian always wanted a girl and made beautiful embroidered dresses for each baby — only to have another son. But she took great pride in her sons and kept up with all the details of their lives.
She especially enjoyed them singing with their dad many Sunday evenings after church. And if they forgot, she would say, “Boys, you haven’t sung yet.” This practice has continued over the years.
She kept her family well fed. Saturday suppers were often fresh baked zwieback with syrup. And a favorite of the boys was her peach pie with milk and sugar.
Abe died suddenly from a heart attack on July 18, 1972. Harold and Leland continued to live with her on the farm until they were in college and she moved to an apartment in Corn.
She began corresponding with Abe Reimer from California, whom she knew from childhood, and they were married on Oct. 8, 1977. They built a home in Corn where they lived for five years until Abe’s death on July 14, 1982.
After some time she began seeing her neighbor, Menno Heinrichs, and they married on Nov. 29, 1985. She moved two doors down to his home. Menno passed away on Nov. 2, 1991.
Lillian enjoyed the Women’s Mission Circle and was on the quilting committee for many years.
She had a very generous spirit and had a heart for giving to many ministries. She especially cared about hungry children around the world.
She taught the toddlers class for many years at church. She also babysat her younger grandchildren many times. She gave them tea parties and lunches on the patio.
In June of 2013, she moved to Corn Heritage Village Apartments where she lived a few doors down from her sister, Marge. In December of 2014, she moved to the full care facility at CHV.
Lillian was a special grandmother to her grandchildren and step-grandchildren, whom she treated as her own. She told them many stories of her childhood, and always had oatmeal cookies available.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Abe Warkentin, Abe Reimer and Menno Heinrichs; her brothers, Willard LeRoy, Wesley and Robert; her sisters, Edna Warkentin, Florence Heidebrecht Saunders, Mildred Vogt Martin and Marjorie Heinrichs; a grandson, Kevin Warkentin; a step-daughter, Lois Franz; and a step-granddaughter, Kerry Friesen.
She is survived by her sons, Walden and wife, Betty Warkentin, of Denver, Colo., Don and wife, Judy Warkentin, of Christiana, Tenn., Harold and wife, Ginnie Warkentin, of Corn; and Leland and wife, Diann Warkentin, of Corn; grandchildren, Darren and wife, Annie Warkentin of Warroad, Minn., Carol and husband Nick McCaslin of Hartsville, Tenn. Brian and wife, Stephanie Warkentin, of Marion Iowa, Eric Warkentin of Corn, Keith and wife, Paige Warkentin of Birch Bay, Wash., Danae and husband Kyle Schmidt, of Hillsboro, Kan., Lendon Warkentin and Reesa Warkentin of Corn; great-grandchildren, Andrea, Jillian, Bethany and Katrina Warkentin, Kristen and Breanna Warkentin, Nathan McCaslin, Gavin Warkentin; one sister, Elda Balzer, of Bartlesville, Okla. and one sister-in-law, Martha Pass, of Stillwater, Okla.. Also surviving are stepchildren, Bobbie Provost, Dale Heinrichs and Janice Friesen and their families, and many, many nieces, nephews and cousins.
While the family’s Mom and Grandma will be greatly missed, they know she is enjoying heaven with Jesus and those who preceded her.
(Paid Obituary)