Our Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, Vada (Smith) Ensz was born to Dan and Katie (Nightingale) Smith on December 12, 1926, at Fairview, Oklahoma. She passed away unexpectedly on May 1, 2024, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, Hutchinson, Kansas.
Mom was the seventh of eleven children and often spoke fondly of her growing up years with her siblings in the big white house east of Fairview. She met the Lord at age thirteen and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite by minister Edd Frank on December 3, 1939, at Fairview, Oklahoma. She received her education at a rural country school near Fairview.
Helping people was meaningful to Mom, and she spent many years working as a CNA at Goessel, Moundridge and Pleasant View Home. Our Mom was married to our dad, Menno R Ensz, on June 12, 1960, at Fairview, Oklahoma by her father, Dan H. Smith. They resided on the family farm west of Inman, Kansas and raised six children there. Dad and Mom enjoyed 27 happy years together before Dad passed away very unexpectedly on October 4, 1987, leaving all of us, especially Mom, very lonely. Mom’s faith in God was evident as she bravely carried on. In the fall of 1999, Mom bought a house in Inman and moved off the farm. Mom missed the farm but loved it when the family would gather at her place or when she would travel to see them.
Approximately four years ago, Mom moved to the assisted living apartments at Pleasant View Home. The care she received was greatly appreciated. Her hands were never idle. She spent many hours making quilts and embroidering tea towels for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, also faithfully remembering our birthdays with cards and money. Our hearts are overjoyed with the thought of Mom being reunited with Dad on yonder shore.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Bonnie (Jason) Yost, Ward, South Dakota, Janalea (David) Becker, Canton, Kansas, Michael (Lois) Ensz, Inman, Kansas, Marlys (Kendall) Martens, Inman, Kansas, Kristine (Kerry) Boeckner, Harrisburg, Arkansas, Roderick (Raschel) Ensz, Macon, Mississippi; twenty-one grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren; one brother, Dan Junior Smith; one sister, Geneva Smith; and one sister-in-law, Margaret Ensz. Preceding her in death are her husband, four sisters, and four brothers.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM, Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Zion Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, Inman, KS. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Sunday, May 5, at Zion Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. Burial will follow at Zion Church Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be given to Pleasant View Home, Inman in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.
Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.stockhamfamily.com.