LEAH (SENGER) ZUNKEL

Leah Zunkel Dies Jan. 5

Leah Zunkel, 90, died Jan. 5, 1989, at The Cedars in McPherson, Kans.

She was born Nov. 29, 1898, a daughter of Samuel J. C. and Ida Bucher Senger at Astoria. On Sept. 25, 1927, she was married in Chicago to John W. Zunkel, who preceded her in death in 1966.

She had moved to McPherson from Denver, Colo., in 1981 and had taken part in activities at The Cedars as long as she was able. She was a lifelong member of the Church of the Brethren.

She is survived by one son, Alvin, of Elkhart, Ind.; two daughters, Ida Stinnette of Elizabeth, Colo. and Clara Shank of Abilene, Kans.; three sisters, Rachel Bowen of Bellwood, Ill., Lois Corn of Wausau, Wis. and Ruth Corn of Maywood; and nine grandchildren.

Mrs. Zunkel’s body was given to medical research by her own request, and memorial services were held in her memory at the Chapel at The Cedars on Jan. 11 and in Denver at the Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren on Jan. 15.

Memorial gifts may be made to The Cedars at McPherson, Kans., or Prince of Peace Church at Denver, Colo., or to the family.

The Life Story Of Leah Zunkel

Leah Senger Zunkel was born Nov. 29, 1898, in Astoria, Ill., the oldest of nine children born to Samuel J. and Ida Bucher Senger. Her father was a farmer and a free minister in the Church of the Brethren.

Leah attended school in Astoria through the twelfth grade, graduating in 1917. She was baptized into the Church of the Brethren when she was almost ten years old after a series of evangelistic meetings led by I. D. Heckman.

Leah went to Chicago after high school with the goal of getting college credits so that she could become a nurse. She stayed with a cousin, and after completing two years of schooling at Bethany Bible School in a music course,, she transferred her credits to Manchester College in Indiana to complete her four year degree. She graduated there in 1922 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She had earned part of her tuition there by acting as school nurse.

After her college training Leah spent one year in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a pastor’s assistant, then stayed at home one winter with a health problem. The next year she taught math at her hometown high school at Astoria, Ill., and there she taught several of her own brothers, sisters and cousins. After this she returned to Chicago and got a secretarial job at Sears, Roebuck and Co. to finish paying off her college debt.

During this time, she met John W. Zunkel, from Atwood, Colo. He was in Chicago to take courses at Bethany Theological Seminary and also at Lewis Institute of Technology. Both John and Leah were active in the young adults’ group at First Church of the Brethren, and having become very close friends, they were united in marriage on Sept. 25, 1927, after the morning worship service.

John and Leah lived in the Chicago area and were active in First Church there for over 20 years. After they moved from Bellwood to Chicago’s west side in 1944, Leah worked in a Coop grocery store as cashier and in the meat department while John was store manager. At church Leah was very active in the women’s circle and assisted with many church programs with decorations and costumes.

During these years they reared their three children: Alvin Paul, Ida Pearl, and Clara Mae. Leah was very active in the PTA in Bellwood and helped with programs at the school there including band programs in which her son took part. She helped with scouts also.

In 1949 the family moved to North Manchester, Ind., and in 1951 to Denver, Colo., where John worked at the Union Depot and Leah as a nurses’ aide and doing housecleaning.

In Denver, John and Leah were active in the Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren. Leah especially enjoyed marking quilts for the ladies group in the church to stitch. She also made the large advent candles that were used each Christmas for several years.

Leah always loved to learn and to teach. She taught crafts at summer camps at Camp Mack, Milford, Ind. and at Camp Colorado near Sedalia for over 20 years. She enjoyed her association with young people. At First Church in Chicago, she was instrumental in starting Camp Fire Girls and was a leader for several years. In Chicago Leah took classes at the YWCA and later in Denver at Opportunity School. She also took oil painting classes from Ethel Kurtz in Denver. She taught quilting in her home for a while and belonged to the All Hobbies Club of Denver for a number of years being active with candle making and cake decorating. As a senior citizen in McPherson, Kans., Leah audited some courses at McPherson College, and when she was no longer able to see to read, she enjoyed Talking Books for the Blind.

Leah had a special interest in music, because she came from a family where her father taught each of the children a harmony part and to play an instrument.

Leah learned to play the harmonica, or “mouth harp”, when she was quite young and was able to entertain herself and others with it, even past her 80th year. She was given a violin by her father when she was ten, and she played in the family and at church, also in the college orchestra at North Manchester, Ind. Leah always enjoyed singing and even assisted as a leader in some of the “Singing Schools” that were held in churches when she was a young woman. She especially enjoyed the hymns of the church and sang many lullabies to brothers and sisters, children, grandchildren and babies of others.

In 1981 when Leah’s eyesight began to fail significantly, she moved to The Cedars in McPherson, Kans., where she lived until her death. She took part in all she could as long as she was able, also attending services at the McPherson Church of the Brethren and programs at McPherson College.

Leah is remembered by her family and friends as a person with many interests but most of all an interest in people. She always had a desire to help and a concern for each member of her family. She leaves a kaleidoscope of memories to all.

Leah left this lie on January 5, 1989 at The Cedars in McPherson, Kans. Leah is survived by her three children: Alvin of Elkhart, Ind., Ida Stinnette of Elizabeth, Colo., and Clara Shank of Abilene, Kans.; three sisters, Rachel Bowen of Bellwood, Ill., Lois Corn of Wausau, Wis., and Ruth Corn of Maywood, Ill.; nine grandchildren and many other in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Her husband, John, preceded her in death in 1966; also four brothers and one sister.

A Colorado Blue Spruce was planted on The Cedars property in her memory.

 

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 2/15/1989

 

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