Loraine Leah (Stimer) Engelberth
Loraine Leah (Stimer) Engelberth
Loraine Leah (Stimer) Engelberth, Winona Lake, passed away at Kosciusko Community Hospital of Warsaw. On Oct. 15, 2021, after a long and blessed life, 90 amazing years, she exchanged her earthly home for one much grander and exceedingly more beautiful. Her children were privileged to be by her side on her final journey.
She was born on Nov. 15, 1930, in Pontiac, Mich., to Frances Elsie (Corbin) Stimer and Wesley Scott Stimer. She graduated from Greenville College in June of 1954 and on June 19, 1954, in Linden, Mich., she married William “Bill” H. Engelberth. They raised five children, loved each time they became grandparents, and shared everything during their 57 years of marriage before he passed away on Sept. 29, 2011.
She was a proud homemaker and farmer’s wife. They settled in Pierceton, where she worked alongside her husband Bill, helping him with their dairy and grain farm. After Bill and Loraine sold the dairy operation (but not the farm) in 1980, they were free to travel. Together they took a trip to Africa, several trips to Europe and even took a road trip from Indiana to Alaska, which she said was her favorite trip of all.
She always kept active in the community and enjoyed being involved with Kosciusko Literary Services, Warsaw Ladies Bible Study, Salvation Army Auxiliary, and taught ESL Classes. She was a member of the Sunshine Home Extension Club, Winona Literary Club, and WOW (Winning over Widowhood). She loved all sorts of volunteer work, books, and had an insatiable curiosity about almost everything.
She was a lifetime member of Winona Lake Free Methodist Church (now Winona Lake Community Church), where she loved to worship alongside her church family. She was a very much involved member of the church, where for decades she and Bill sang in the church choir and she also sang in the Warsaw Community choir. She also worked at the church as an administrative assistant. She dearly loved her Lord and Savior and was blessed to share 90 years on this earth with her family.
Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought immense joy to her life. She will forever be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend to many. Her smile was infectious as was her optimism. She was loved dearly by her family and her many, many friends.
She will be lovingly remembered by her five children: Jon (Margaret) Engelberth, Denville, N.J.; Paul (Terri) Engelberth, Suwanee, Ga; Rachel Alexander, Shoreline, Wash.; Lois (John) Winenger, Noblesville; and Jim (Janet) Engelberth, Noblesville. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren: Nathan, Brandon, Haley, Abby, Elizabeth, Daniel, Jonathan, Justin, Elena, Jared, Joel and Jenna; nine great-grandchildren: Marcus, Gabe, August, Felix, Colby, Josephine, Charlie, Autumn, Calvin; and her youngest sister: Janet Barbersek, Conover, N.C.
She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers; two sisters; son-in-law: Arthur Alexander and her husband: Bill Engelberth.
A celebration of life memorial service will be held in Loraine’s honor in the Spring of 2022 that will be conducted at Winona Lake Community Church, Winona Lake. She will be laid to rest at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw.
Arrangements entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.
