Wilhelmina (Rausch) Schierman peacefully entered the presence of her Lord on April 7, 2005 at Vulcan, Alberta at the age of 87 years, surrounded by her family.
Wilhelmina was born December 10, 1917 in Leader Saskatchewan. When she was two months old the family moved to the Bridgeland-Riverside district of Calgary where she attended Riverside School and Jehovah Lutheran Church. In 1928 her family moved to a farm halfway between Carstairs and Acme where she attended Green Acre one room country school. She was confirmed in the Christian faith at St. John Lutheran Church in Calgary and many times expressed how grateful she was to God for the solid foundation her parents and pastor had laid for her. When her father died in 1934, her family moved back to Calgary to live with grandparents. Wilhelmina, only sixteen, quit school to assume home and child-rearing responsibilities and to find work to help make ends meet. For a number of years she worked at Ontario Laundry in Calgary.
Wilhelmina married John Schierman on May 9, 1942 in Calgary; the next day routine duties resumed on the Schierman family farm east of Vulcan. She and John lived with his parents and sisters and brothers for six months, then moved on their own to the Queenstown farm. In 1947 they moved to the Charlie Hay’s farm six and a half miles northwest of Vulcan where they designed and built their dream home. In 1975 they retired to the Town of Vulcan. In 1999 Wilhelmina moved to Vulcan Extendicare where her needs have been so kindly and cheerfully met by many wonderful people.
Wilhelmina was a faithful and active member of the Evangelical Missionary Church in Vulcan, for many years teaching Sunday School, participating in women’s ministries and cleaning the church. She was a wonderful homemaker, her cheerful disposition and wonderful German food a highlight for visiting family and friends. Wilhelmina was a cheerleader and strong supporter of the next generation, wanting young people to have a chance. She unconditionally loved and believed in her children, their chosen spouses and their children, believing each child is unique. Wilhelmina had a strong sense of fair treatment, believing “ordinary” people are just as significant as “important” people. She loved to express her creativity through her sewing and quilting, making over 100 quilts, giving most of them away. Wilhelmina was a faithful helpmate to John, beside him in the field, in the garden, building the house, taking a walk or going for a drive.
Wilhelmina will be deeply missed by her husband of 62 years, John Schierman of Vulcan, daughter Sandra (James) Stelter and son Wesley (Lucille) Schierman all of Vulcan, grandchildren Donna (Ray) Schneider of Vulcan, Paul (Aimee) Stelter of High River, Allan Schierman of Vulcan, Karen Stelter of Calgary and Tom Schierman of Vulcan, great-grandchildren Eden and Gideon Stelter of High River, sisters Esther Spady of Three Hills, Marion Dippel of Airdrie, brother Reuben (Barbara) Rausch of Calgary, sister-in-law Anne Rausch of Red Deer and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her father Adam Rausch in 1934, her mother Marilis in 1962, her brother Victor in 1924, brother Elvert in 1986, brother Martin in 2002 and sister Helen in 2004.
Funeral Service Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at the Vulcan Evangelical Missionary Church at 1:30 p.m. with Pastor Frank Harris officiating.
Casket Bearers Donna and Ray Schneider, Paul and Aimee Stelter, Allan Schierman, Karen Stelter and Tom Schierman.
Interment Vulcan Cemetery
If friends so desire, tributes in Wilhelmina’s memory can be made to either the Canadian Bible Society, 117 – 7 Ave SW, Calgary T2P 0W5 or the Vulcan Evangelical Missionary Church, Box 669, Vulcan T0L 2B0.
Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Directors. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences to vulcanfuneralhome@hotmail.com.