She had a most wonderful and happy childhood, playing with her sisters and enduring teasing
from her brothers, growing up on the family farm west of Drake. She learned her love of
gardening from her parents and was born with an innate desire to design and create clothes,
robbing her mother’s scrap material to make outfits for her dolls.
Eunice attended Kansas school for grades 1 - 8, finished her Grade nine by correspondence
and then attended the high school in Drake for Grades 10 - 12. When she was 15 she was
baptized and joined the North Star Mennonite Church. After high school Eunice worked for a
year at the Royal Bank in Lanigan before marrying Eldon Gerbrandt of Drake in July 1950.
Eunice and Eldon lived on the Gerbrandt family farm and spent many years remodelling the
1912 house as they raised their four children. A huge vegetable garden, fruit trees, chickens
and other chores kept Eunice busy but music and her flowers gave her great joy and she
always had a beautiful yard. Eunice sewed all the kids’ clothes and brought in extra income by
doing custom sewing for the community - especially creating wedding dresses for the local
brides. She even taught sewing classes after taking instruction through the extension division
of the U of S.
Eunice was very involved in her church - teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, being
active in the ladies group and serving on many committees. When the children were all
finished school, Eunice and Eldon sold the farm and went into voluntary service with MCC.
This took them to Winnipeg, New Brunswick and Akron Pennsylvania. Another assignment
saw them as the caretakers of the Shekinah Retreat Centre where in June of 1988 Eldon
suddenly passed away from a heart attack.
Eunice lived as a widow for four years, working at the MCC warehouse in Saskatoon before
being courted by Peter Stobbe, a fellow MCC volunteer that she had met in Akron. As Peter’s
wife had also recently passed away, the relationship progressed until they were married in
November of 1992. Eunice and Peter were able to enjoy 15 years of married life, travelling the
world, helping out their children and grandchildren and always being busy in the church and
community. They enjoyed keeping up with both extended families and Eunice researched and
wrote a genealogy for both Peter’s family and her own.
After Peter’s death in 2007 Eunice continued with her volunteering and church and committee
work living in the condo they had purchased together. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s,
Eunice moved into the assisted living component of her condo complex and enjoyed 1.5 years
there. A fall and fractured hip in January 2015 started a series of medical emergencies that
eventually led to her being placed in the Luther Care Home in spring of 2015. Eunice enjoyed
great care in the spiritual environment of the home, always attending church services,
recreational programs and special events. Her Parkinson’s and related dementia slowly
advanced but her joy in seeing her family and hearing their laughter remained. Eunice slipped
away peacefully in the first minutes of January 16, 2019 going to join her Lord and Saviour.
Eunice leaves behind her brother Edgar (Helen) Bartel; brother in law Frank Gerbrandt; sister in
law Marge Bartel, sister in law Jacquie Loewen and her lifelong friend Floss Bartel.
Children Duncan (Linda) Gerbrandt and his children Amanda - Heidi, Carly and Katie; Jessica
(Spence) Bates - Alexandra, Isabella and William; & Jennifer Gerbrandt and Justin Robertson
Holly (Dale) Elder - Erin and Matthew and Jenny
Sheldon (Judy) Gerbrandt - Geoffrey (Brenna) Gerbrandt and Angela (Leighton) Buhler
Anna (James) Rybka - Cole
Peters children: Wes (Bridget) Stobbe; Sharon (Bernie) Loeppky; James (Lara) Stobbe; Naomi
(Paul) Reimer and Robert (Donna) Stobbe and their children and grandchildren.
Numerous nieces, nephews, and their children as well as friends and acquaintances from
around the world.
In lieu of flowers please feel free to make a donation to the Luther Care Home, 1212 Osler
Street, Saskatoon.
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