Beryl Berdeen Isaak

Beryl Berdeen (Jantz) Isaak was born October 13, 1929, to Emil and Sarah (Holdeman) Jantz, at the Axtell Christian Hospital, Newton, Kansas. She died April 28, 2021 at Pleasant View Home, Inman, Kansas. She grew up on a farm, east of Walton, Kansas, the youngest of five children. She had attended all 12 years of school in Walton and graduated from Walton High School in 1947. Beryl attended one year at Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas, taking a one year business course, after which she worked for 5 years at Central Securities, Inc., Newton, Kansas. During this time, her sister-in-law introduced her to their hired man, Paul J. Isaak who was also attending Bethel College. Paul and Beryl were married on May 31, 1953. They enjoyed 53 plus years together before he died of cancer on July 6, 2006. After their marriage they lived near Aberdeen, Idaho for five months, where Paul worked on his brother’s farm. In November, 1953 they moved to North Newton, Kansas so Paul could finish his studies, as a ministerial student at Bethel College. Beryl started working for the General Conference Headquarters and for the Mennonite Bookstore while Paul finished his college degree and did his 1-W service at Prairie View Hospital at Newton. They attended the Bethel College Mennonite Church, of which Beryl was a member, and were active as Junior High Youth sponsors. During this time Paul also filled pulpits at various churches gaining experience for the future. After Paul was ordained to the ministry on June 10, 1956, they moved to Hydro, Oklahoma, where they served the Bethel Mennonite Church for three years. Two of their children, Richard and Patricia, were born while in Oklahoma. In 1959, they moved to Henderson, Nebraska, where, for the next five years, Paul was associate pastor of the Bethesda Mennonite Church. In January of 1965, they moved to Newton, Kansas, where Paul was assistant pastor at the First Mennonite Church. In January, 1966, their son, Philip John, was born. They lived in Newton until they moved to Inman, Kansas, in 1968 when Paul became pastor of the Bethel Mennonite Church. It was while they were in Inman that Beryl started her career as a church secretary. She was the secretary at the remaining churches they served, which became about a 35 year career. They moved from Inman to Ritzville, Washington, in 1981. They lived in the country, on the Menno Mennonite Church grounds, about 18 miles from the nearest town. They stayed there for six years, then moved to Elkhart, Indiana so Paul could have a semester at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. While in this area, Beryl worked as a file clerk for the Selmer Music Company. She enjoyed very much. While there, they attended the Silverwood Mennonite Church in Goshen. From the Elkhart/Goshen area they moved to Rocky Ford, Colorado to serve at the Rocky Ford Mennonite Church. Again, they lived in the country along a busy four lane highway and railroad track. Beryl also worked as secretary for the Emmanuel Mennonite Church at LaJunta, as well as, the Rocky Ford Mennonite Church. From Colorado they moved to Deer Creek, Oklahoma to pastor the Deer Creek Mennonite Church. Paul and Beryl moved back to Inman, Kansas, in June, 2003, because of Paul’s illness. Soon after moving to Inman, the pastor, Michael Knowles, presented Beryl with the idea that the Bethel Church needed a Church newsletter and asked her to be the editor. Beryl was editor of the Bethel Voice for 13 1/2 years. Beryl was also involved in the sewing circles/mission societies, choirs, and played the piano at several of the churches they served. She learned to quilt at their first church and continued to do this at several churches. She was involved in conference activities, serving on various committees in the different districts. They were very much involved in the music programs of the various churches and sang many duets. They became involved in the work of several of the North American Mennonite Relief Sales. When Paul died she was asked to finish his term on the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale Board. She served in this position for 8 years. Preceding her in death are her parents, three brothers: Milferd Jantz , Winston Jantz, Kerwin Jantz, and one sister, Floris Miller, three sisters-in-law, Esther Mae Jantz, Irene Jantz, Elda Jantz, and one brother-in-law, Ivan Miller. Survivors include: two sons, Richard (Sue) of Auburn, Washington; Philip (Jill) of Columbus, Nebraska; one daughter, Patricia (Loren) Baird of Cashmere, Washington; seven grandchildren: Jessica Fisher (Joe) of Spokane, Washington, Brandon Baird (Hally), and Danielle Baird of Cashmere, Washington, Michael Jones (Jessika Morgan), Marysville, Washington, and Crystal (Luis) Cruz of Buckley, Washington, Jacob and Cale Isaak of Columbus, Nebraska; great-grandchildren: Jacob Jones (Kerstin Hughes) of Auburn, Washington, Gracie and Georgia Jones of Marysville, Washington, Hayden, Kodie and Taryn Baird of Cashmere, Washington, Victoria and Joseph Miller, Madelyn and Allison Zilar, Tyler Fisher of Spokane, Washington; Amelia and Norah Cruz of Buckley, Washington; great great grandson: Brayden Jones of Auburn, Washington and many nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at the Meridian Church Cemetery, northeast of Hesston. A memorial service will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Bethel Mennonite Church, Inman, Kansas with Pastor Bob Yates officiating. Friends may call from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday, May 3, at Buhler Mortuary, with family greeting friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested for the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale or the Bethel Mennonite Church of Inman in care of Buhler Mortuary, PO Box 589, Buhler, Kansas 67522.

Beryl Berdeen Isaak

October 13, 1929 - April 28, 2021