Ina Mae Eigsti

Ina Mae Freyenberger Eigsti, age 95, passed away on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at Schowalter Villa in Hesston, Kansas. Ina was born May 11, 1928, near Wayland, Iowa. Ina “Inie”, was born to Elmer and Emma (Oswald) Freyenberger. She was the youngest of six. William (Julia), Robert (Mildred), Myrtle (Harry)Gardner, Ruth (Dennis) Graber, and Edward (Irene) were her siblings. Ina attended country school through eighth grade and graduated from Wayland High School. She sang in the high school choir and was founding member of the “Hubba Hubba Club.” As a young girl, she accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized. She was a member of Eicher Mennonite Church until her marriage when she became a member of Sugar Creek Mennonite Church. She was active in the sewing circle, was a Sunday School teacher and MYF sponsor. On February 22, 1948, she married her life-long sweetheart, Orlin Eigsti, at the same farm house which served as their family home. Daniel Joe was born in 1949 and Thomas Lee (Paula) in 1950. During these years in Iowa, Ina was busy raising her two little boys and also proved a tremendous work ethic at a turkey hatchery. She also worked as a seed corn sorter. In 1969, Orlin and Ina held a farm auction and began a courageous adventure of service to others. This service took them to Richmond, Virginia, as houseparents to young adult volunteers, Frontier Boys Village, Larkspur, Colorado, as houseparents for emotionally disturbed boys and Elkhart, Indiana, with Mennonite Board of Missions. In 1977, Orlin and Ina relocated to Hesston, Kansas. Here they purchased a house. Ina’s homemaking and hospitality skills quickly made their house a home. She was a superb cook and served many many people around their dining room table. Next to family, she reached out to church friends and college students. Inie also worked in the kitchen at Hesston College, but her first love was nursing. She worked as a nurse aide at Bethel Hospital as well as Halstead Hospital. Her work ethic and caregiving skills endeared her to patients and fellow workers. As grandchildren came along, she turned her caregiving to grandchildren. During these years, she became a member of Hesston Mennonite Church where she served faithfully for over 40 years. After retiring, in 1999, Ina and Orlin moved into a Showalter Villa apartment. During these years, Ina volunteered at the Showalter Villa resource center and the ETC Shop. She also continued her sewing hobbies by converting a closet into a classy sewing room. Her green thumb turned their patio area into a beautiful flower garden. Ina’s health challenges, in later years, did not steal her zest for life or her cheerful demeanor. She is survived by sons Dan and Tom, daughter-in-law Paula, grandchildren Cherise (Chad) Fidler, Shanna (Micah) Beachy, Melissa (Cory) Lamb, Chad (Sondra) Eigsti,Nathan (Courtney) Eigsti and 10 great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews who loved and respected Aunt Inie. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Orlin, and siblings, William, Robert, Myrtle, Ruth and Edward. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Schowalter Villa Chapel. Private burial will take place at Eastlawn Cemetery, Hesston. Memorial contributions may be made to Schowalter Villa Good Samaritan Fund or Hesston Mennonite Church in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, PO Box 32, Hesston, KS 67062.

Ina Mae Eigsti

May 11, 1928 - April 10, 2024