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Jeanne_Rutenbar
Jeanne Rutenbar passed into new life on February 27, 2012.  Born Jeanne Alice Lyons on February 10, 1926, in Alpena, MI, Jeanne was the daughter of Harry Lyons of Ohio and Gertrude Donnan Lyons of Alpena.  Following the death of her father when she was 10, Jeanne and her two brothers, Ray and Lloyd, were raised by their mother in Alpena.  Jeanne graduated from Albion College cum laude, with a degree in Elementary Education.  In 1948, she was married to Howard C. Rutenbar of Detroit.  Howard’s career as an Episcopal priest took them to Connecticut, Michigan, Texas, and Missouri.  Before retiring to Michigan, Howard and Jeanne lived in St. Joseph, MO, 23 years, serving Christ Church and the community.  Jeanne was a gracious hostess and adept at making others feel welcome.  She was a devoted and loving mother to her three children, Cathi, Mark, and Todd.  She cherished the time she shared with her family and friends.  Over the years, a special part of Jeanne’s life was time spent at the family cabin on Grand Lake in northern Michigan.  Jeanne lived out her vocation of teaching over the years, nurturing students in Flint, MI, in Amazonia and Savannah, MO., and as a Head Start teacher in St. Joseph, MO.  She completed her Masters of Education from Northwest Missouri State University while living in St. Joseph.  Jeanne was a member of the American Association of University Women and past president of the League of Women Voters, St. Joseph, MO.  She was preceded in death by her two brothers, her husband, and her daughter.  She is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-law, the Reverends Mark and LaRae Rutenbar, Memphis, TN, and Todd and Winifred Rutenbar, Richardson, TX. Also remembering her with love are her five grandchildren, Michael Rutenbar, East Troy, WI; Libby Rutenbar, Portland, OR; Sophie Rutenbar, Juba, South Sudan; Katie Rutenbar, Auburn, AL; and Kyle Russell, Dallas, TX.  Jeanne's gracious and kind spirit will be missed as well as her sense of humor, lively sense of inquiry, and her strong faith.  A family memorial service and interment of ashes will be held at a later date in Detroit Michigan.  Gifts in memory of Jeanne may be made to Albion College, Albion, MI, or Trinity Episcopal Church, Alpena MI.  You may contact the family via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 


Winnie-Vass-colorVass, Winifred Kellersberger Born August 30, 1917, at Lusambo, Belgian Congo, pioneer mission station of the American Presbyterian Congo Mission (APCM), Winifred Kellersberger was given the Luba name of "Misenga", meaning "sands". As one of the first "white" babies born in the area, she reminded the people of white river sands. Winifred was the daughter of Dr. Eugene Roland Kellersberger of Cypress Mill, TX, and Edna Bosché Kellersberger of Austin, Texas. Dr. Kellersberger was a medical missionary specializing in leprosy and sleeping sickness. Educated at her Bibanga mission station home through high school, Winifred frequently helped out her father at the Edna Kellersberger Memorial Hospital, named after her mother, who died when she was six. Winifred, called "Winnie", graduated from Agnes Scott College in 1936. In 1940, Winnie married the Rev. Lachlan Cumming Vass III, whose father, Lachlan C. Vass II, was a pioneer Presbyterian missionary in the Congo Free State, 1898-1909. The Vasses served with the APCM from 1940-70. Winnie worked primarily with literature development, including school and Sunday school materials, Bible lessons, and editing of periodicals in the Tshiluba language. She also lent her musical gifts to the translation of hymns and her linguistic skills to co-authoring a textbook of the Tshiluba language. In 1971, Winnie graduated from the University of Florida with an MA in Journalism and Communications. Her master's thesis, "The Bantu-Speaking Heritage of the United States", grew out of her years-long fascination with Bantu language carry-overs into American speech. Her thesis was the basis for two books, The Bantu-Speaking Heritage of the United States (UCLA) and The African Heritage of American English (Indiana University Press). After 30 years in the mission field, the Vasses moved to Dallas, Texas, in 1971, where Lach served as Assistant Business Manager at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, and Winnie shared her gifts as a Bible teacher and speaker. In 1975, Winnie published 31 Banana Leaves, a book of meditations based on her missionary experiences. She pursued the dream of writing her father's biography, and in 1986, Dr. Not Afraid was published. Thereafter, she and her husband co-authored The Lapsley Saga, the story of the Congo mission paddlewheel steamer built and captained by Lach's father. In 1982, the Vasses moved to Presbyterian Village North (PVN), Dallas, where she continued to use her literary skills as one of the first editors of the PVN newsletter, Village Bugle. Winnie rose to new life on October 27, 2010. The family is grateful to PVN staff for their loving ministry to Winnie in her final years. "Butumbi buebe, O Mubuishibue!" Winnie was preceded in death by a daughter, Sophie Fontaine, her sister, Cornelia, and her husband. She is survived by four daughters: Edna (John) Stucky, Moundridge, KS; Julia Lake (William) Dudley, Signal Mountain, TN; Elizabeth (Reggie) Wilkerson, Laurens, SC; and Winifred (Todd) Rutenbar, Richardson, TX; nine grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, and devoted nieces and nephews. Her service of Resurrection will be celebrated Saturday, October 30, 10 AM, in the sanctuary of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, 3821 University Blvd., Dallas, TX 75205. Memorial gifts may be sent to the American Leprosy Mission, 1 ALM Way, Greenville, SC 29601, or to the literature program of the Congo Presbyterian Church in care of: Highland Park Presbyterian Church/Memo: IMPROKA or click here to give a memorial online.