Eleanora Fay Goertzen

Eleanora Fay (Unruh) Goertzen, 90, passed away June 16, 2025 at Parkside Senior Living, Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was born January 29, 1935, daughter of Jacob E. and Hannah (Wedel) Unruh.

Eleanora was the fifth child of seven and grew up on a farm northeast of Goessel, Kansas. She graduated from Goessel High School and married Franklin D. Goertzen in 1955.

She was the Supervisor of the school food program for both the grade school and the high school in Goessel for over 28 years and cooked at the high school. Her peanut butter twists, cinnamon rolls, bierrocks and daily fresh bread were favorites, loved by students and teachers alike. She was a gentle, loving woman who loved laughing at a good joke, gardening, reading and cooking, but most of all, she loved music. She sang in church choirs and sang in the Tabor Women's Trio for over 20 years. Her soprano voice could easily be heard singing or humming as she worked. Her life was at times, challenging. She showed quiet strength when faced with difficulties in her life--depending on God's strength and wisdom as she faced these challenges. She cared deeply about her family, her church and her community.

She was baptized and a member of Goessel Mennonite Church and after marrying Franklin, became a member of Tabor Mennonite Church. In 2011, she moved to Leo, Indiana to be closer to family.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Franklin Goertzen; a son, Clifton; a daughter, Vicki: five brothers: Paul, Roy, Willard, C. Howard and Harold, and one sister, Janet (Kaufman) and her parents.

Surviving her are daughter, Patty (Mark) Seibel of Ashville, NC and son, Dr. David (Rebecca) Goertzen of Fort Wayne, IN. Also surviving are six grandchildren--Kristen, Andrew, Lauren, Abigail, Erin and Elyssa.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Tabor Mennonite Church, Newton, KS, October 11, 2025. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Bethesda Home of Goessel or the Mennonite Central Committee.