MONTEZUMA - Our mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Elda Jantz Giesbrecht was born to David and Anna Schmidt Jantz at Montezuma. She was born on July 4, 1926 and God called her home on June 1, 2018, reaching the age of 91. She was a resident at Bethel Home, Montezuma.

Our mother spent her young years at Montezuma. Here she received her basic education and grew to adulthood. At a young age she made a decision to serve God and upon the confession of her faith was baptized by Minister Albert Unruh on October 21, 1940. She became a member of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite and was a faithful member until her death. There was a time in her adolescent years when the economic situation became quite dire that she, with her family, moved to Fredonia, Kansas. Here her brother Ben and her father were involved in a tragic drowning incident. Shortly after this they moved back to Montezuma. Even though times were not easy, yet life was enjoyable with her siblings and cousins who lived close by.

She found her life's companion in our father, Tobias Giesbrecht, and they were married on April 4, 1948. They enjoyed 57 years together and she was left very sad and lonely after our father left us in October of 2005. To this union were born four sons and two daughters. They spent their first few years of married life in the Montezuma area, living at various places until a decision was reached to move to the young congregation at Louisville, Georgia in 1957. We enjoyed the four years we spent there but in 1961 we again moved back to Montezuma. As a family we remember good times and spent our formative years in this area. Dad became interested in the movement to Mississippi in the mid-sixties and purchased some property which we began to farm. In the latter seventies they moved to Macon, Mississippi. They lived there for a number of years but in 1993 circumstances again brought them back to Montezuma. Life was fulfilling for them and they prepared themselves for the sunset years.

We remember our mother as a hard-working mother, providing us with excellent meals and care. She took a special interest in her children and grandchildren. She was gifted with a sense of humor which many came to appreciate. Mom had a special way of connecting with those whom she loved, which made them feel at home. She loyally stood by our father in the decisions of life that were made, even though it wasn't always easy to do. In the later years, it was difficult for her to face life without our father, finding it a bit difficult to submit to the restrictions of old age. When we would visit her in her room, we would often see the Bible open and know that it was important for her to find strength and comfort in God's Word. In our heart there is a quiet confidence she was ready to go home.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children: Larry and Glennis, Macon, Mississippi, Joyce and Dale Koehn, Moundridge, Merle and Brenda, Hartley, Texas, Eldon and Paula, Macon Mississippi, Roger and Jan, Macon, Mississippi. and Jeanette and James Nichols, Viola, Idaho; one sister, Carolina and Wesley Koehn, Moundridge, and one brother Floyd, Wichita; eighteen grandchildren and sixty four great grandchildren. Preceding her in death are: her husband, Tobias; two grandchildren, baby Nichols and Bonnie Stull; one great grandchild, Tanner Koehn; four brothers, Jake, Jesse, Ben, Ervin, and Leroy; and three sisters, Mabel, Clara, and Mildred.

Funeral service will be held at Montezuma Mennonite Church on Wednesday June 6, 2018 at 10:30 AM with Ministers Charles Schmidt, Kalvin Salsbury, and Craig Koehn presiding. Burial will follow at Montezuma Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Montezuma on Tuesday June 5, 2018 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Bethel Home in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.