Rachel Steinbeck Sturz

How I miss my little sweetie. I still miss her everyday. We shared so many trials and joys. She was a joy to live with even in the conflicts.
The Lord gave her to me as a gift for 42 years, the most precious gift I have had only superseded by His Saving my soul from sin and starting me on the way to heaven.
The Lord took her at the right time even though she was only 72 and He does all things well.
The Lord used her to bless so many people with her many talents. Especially her love for people and sharing over the telephone.
Her parents were constantly giving people and so was Rachel.

Justin & Arielle, I went to school with u at Trinity. I remember your dear mother & her directing the choir. We placed at state that year, remember? I know it has been 4 years, but I know the pain u feel in missing your parent, so I say a prayer for u today. Take care my friends. --Rhonda Pittman Keech

Mom, I miss you. I miss you more every day. So much to share. So many questions to ask...so much to say THANK YOU FOR...you were by far the best mother I could have wanted. I love you. Forever.

Dearest Mother, I miss you terribly! Its been a little over 6 months now and all 3 of your grand babies have been born. Arielle with Shiloh, me with Rachel Lee and Justin with Jason. They are simply beautiful mommy. I sit here and cry wishing I could talk to you on the telephone and ask your advice on what songs to sing to little Rachel what to do about her spit up, or her diaper rash, or what to fix for dinner tonight but you are no longer there. I have saved all of the voice mails on both my home phone and cell and play them weekly just to hear your Eastern Carolina voice. I loved it when you called me your baby, the best surprise you ever had, and your precious or your my tall drink of water. I miss it when you described me to your new acquaintances of how I looked just like you - tall and blond! Oh mom, I miss you so much and I love you. When my job is done here on earth we shall meet again in Heaven. Until then, I will carry on the Sturz torch in my new Printz family. The torch of loving Jesus more than anything else, adoring and honoring my sweet husband no matter what, singing to my kids and cultivating a home of love and conservative political talks like you did dearest mom. Fox News, The Eagle Forum, Human Events, IMPRIMIS, and lets not forget NetFlix- are all being implemented in our household this day. Thank you so much for giving me a structure for motherhood! Loving you always, your baby, Jensina

Brother Joe,

Everything I have and everything I enjoy today, including my very life, is due to the kindness of others. In fact, every happiness there is in the world arises as a result of others’ kindness.

In the late, 70s you and Rachael were that kindness for me. I had nothing to offer you except a broken life. You offered me you love, your home, and your family.

I’m fond of the old saying “When one door closes, another door opens.” It’s often true; but it is also almost impossible to think of, let alone believe, when wrestling with the shock and initial stages of major change. That’s the time when life is at its bleakest and everything looks hopeless. However, when I look back on your kindnesses, the changes—and losses---I’ve was going through, I see that even though I gave up many things or many things were taken away from me at the time your kindnesses made all the difference.

Ilove you brother Joe.

Murry S.

To Ariella, Justin and the Steinbeck family......my thoughts and prayers go out to you on the passing of Rachel. She was a woman who devoted her life to her family and I know you will have many wonderful memories............

Sturz Family:

Heartfelt Sympathy and Blessings from our family to yours. Mere words at this time cannot covey our shared sense of loss and bereavement. The County of Pitt and Eastern North Carolina has lost a great American!

Family is everything at this time, for Family is where joys are multiplied and sorrows divided. ANON

Charles H. Farley

Family Sturz,
Very sad to hear of your wife and mother's passing - praising Jesus that she is with her Eternal King. Love you all in His name.

y, I have been so saddened to learn of Rachel's passing. It was great sharing high school and ECU years with this special person. Peace,
Carolyn Tripp Benton

Bro Joe,
Sorry to hear of the passing of Sister Rachel. I will certainly have you and family in prayer.

Edward Pollock
Chaplain PCDC

To the family of Mrs. Sturz. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Mrs. Sturz was a very sweet and kind lady who started teaching me art when I was 8 years old until I finished high school. She had a wonderful impact on my life. She will be greatly missed! My thoughts and prayers are with you all in your time of grief.

Rachel was a dear friend to me over the past 15 years and our entire family was heartsick to hear of her passing.

She was a truly wonderful woman that meant so many things to so many people.

I cannot express enough how much her friendship and encouragement has meant to me over the years. Rachel always made me feel like a part of the family.

Our hearts and prayers go out to all of those that share this loss and may we all give thanks for the time we did have to share with Rachel.

May Angels lead her in to be with our Lord.

July 27, 2009

Dear Family:

Lilith and I were very shocked this morning to hear of my cousin Rachel's passing. With our families scattered so much across this great land, it has been hard to visit with everyone. We do remember visiting in Greenville several years back with Uncle Frank and Aunt Freda and other members of the family. We had a wonderful time. Our hearts are heavy with this news of Rachael. All of you will be in our prayers and thoughts. My memories of years gone by include the summers when all of our parents (my mother, Aunt Freda, Uncle Virgil,Aunt Bayrene, Aunt Maxine, & Aunt Vivian and Uncle Dewey) with their spouses and all their children (us cousins), would gather at the Rohrbough farm on the West Fork River and have a dinner and then home made ice cream and watermelon. We had loads of fun at those gatherings. I will always appreciate Rachel's art drawing of the farm house. I also, have an 8 x 10 picture of the farm that was taken from across the rever. That is now all gone as the Stonewall Jackson Dam and recreation area has taken over. The last time we saw Rachel and Joe was at the cousin gathering in Weston a few years back. We will be thinking of each of you in the coming days and months. With God's love and help all these things will come to pass. Rachel has been welcomed by her mother and father. May the Lord's blessing, spirit and blessing be with all of you is my greatest desire.

With Love,

Lilith and Gerald

Joe, Jensina & Jim, Arielle & Tom and Justin & Sarah,

It was my great delight and blessing to have had the opportunity to meet Rachel at Jim's and Jensina's wedding and again at the baby shower. She truly was a remarkable women with such a sweet and gentle spirit.

We are holding all of you in our thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Cherie

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Although we did not get to know Rachel well in the short time that our familes have been united in Arielle and Tom's marriage, it is evident that she was a beautiful person inside and out. Her memory and spirit will live on in her children and grandchildren. With much love.

I was taken aback of Rachel's passing. I remember her when I was a child and I heard her beautiful voice everyday. She is part of my childhood memory book and will always be in my memory. She is now in the Lord's Choir above looking down on all of us.

I was shocked to hear of Racheal's passing. I am sure God is very happy to have such a talented person to help out.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family as they deal with their loss.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you Joe and all the family. My special times with Rachel were always with music and teaching. I'll alway cherish the good times with the Pop Singers and remember what a special person she was as a teacher. Her love of the Lord showed not only in her teaching of art but the magnificient plays she put on at Trinity Christian School. It was a privledge to work beside her. She will be truely missed.Until we meet again Rachel... Karen Forrest-Dewey,David and Elsa Atkins....

To Joe sturz,Justin, Ariella, and family members, had the opportunity to met this GODLY woman& family while attending Trinity FWB Church .I speak the peace and love of GOD over this family.May more come to JESUS CHRIST thru her testimony. Formerly of greenville/ now VA BCH VA

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of sorrow. May God give you comfort now and in the days to come.

We are thankful for knowing Mrs. Sturz when she taught our children at GCA. She was a blessing! We know she will be greatly missed. We are praying for you all.

Thinking of you and keeping you close in our thoughts and prayers. Steve and Elaine Steinbeck

Thinking of you and keeping you close in our thoughts and prayers. Steve and Elaine Steinbeck, Cary, NC

Our family, and our Wayside Presbyterian Church family, will greatly miss our sister in Christ. Rachel has been used by God in the lives of many. She has, indeed, been an inspiration to us and so many others. My appreciation goes out to the top-notch medical staff that did everything possible to help. We know, however, our God is in control. Rachel is loved by God, and she will love Him forever more. We thank our Lord Jesus for His goodness to us, and we pray for the family members who remain, as they will greatly miss this woman of God!

To the family of Mrs.Sturz. Please find peace in knowing God has taken another precious angel home. She is now in HIS presence. God bless each and everyone of you.

What an inspiring woman of God. I am thankful that God allowed my life to be toughed by Mrs. Rachel. Thank you God. She made me stretch and grow in all that she said, I will certainly miss talking politics with her. I miss her but I know that one day we will meet again.

Our prayers are with the family during this time of grief.

Our love,thoughts,and prayers are with the Sturz family. Rachel was a sweet-spirited and beautiful woman who will be missed by her family,friends,church,and community.

We are so sorry to hear of Rachel's death; what a sweet-spirited and beautiful woman. Our love, thoughts and prayers are with the Sturz family.

We are shocked and very saddened to hear of the passing of Rachel Sturz. I lost my mother last Saturday and today I mourn the passing of a good, good friend. Miss Rachel was a dear saint of God who inspired me every time I saw, spoke, or received an email from her. She had strong godly principles and consistently modeled Christ in all that she did. Mr. Frank Steinbeck was SO proud of his daughter! If she were here, she would remind us that we are not to sorrow as the heathen do for we have a hope eternal, born of God; "an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Despite this Blessed Hope, we still mourn her passing howbeit knowing, for her, she has just graduated to a place she loved with all her heart (heaven) to be with the Person she has loved since childhood, Jesus. I would not wish her to return to this painful world for anything, although we who remain behind will miss her so. I desire to be with her and will be in the not-so-distant future.

Much love to Mr. Joe, who depended upon her so, and to her son and daughters. Our tears join yours as we celebrate the home-going of our friend and sister in Christ. We miss her already!

To God be glory and majesty forever! We loved her so!

We are so sorry to hear of Rachel's death and want to send sympathy to her entire family. Her memory will be cherished by many whose lives she touched. Our prayers are with the family during this time of grief.

Steinbeck and Sturz families, I know you will miss her and so will all of her former students and friends. My children and one grandchild attended GCA and Mrs. Sturz's classes were a highlight of their school days. We thank her for sharing her gifts with so many. God Bless You

Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.