Alice M. Voss

Alice M. Voss Alice Marie Voss, beloved widow of Rev. Hans A. Voss, was raised up into the Church Triumphant on Sunday morning, September 9, 2007, at Sunrise of Raleigh N.C., with family by her side. Born November 8, 1923 in Marshaltown, Iowa to George and Emma (Emde) Kuhlman, Alice moved to and graduated High School in St. Louis, Mo. As a young woman, she was always a very active member of her Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod church and its original youth organization, the Walther League. It was during this period of her life that she met Hans, who was attending the LCMS Seminary there. They were married October 6, 1945 and together lived their lives as well-respected role models for pastors and their wives wherever the call and dedication to ministry led them for 58 years...Westerly, R.I., Morris Plains, N.J., Danbury, New Ipswich, N.H., and Wake Forest N.C. With a never-ending dedication to her Lord, Alice's vitality, creativity and energy lifted up her husband, her church and her family. She raised eight children, and kept a welcoming "open door" home. She created and led adult Bible classes, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School lessons and activities. Her treasure-trove of "stuff" was legendary, as she always had enough of anything for thirty or more people to work with. She created many memorable banners with liturgical and Biblical themes, and served in the leadership capacity of many church-affiliated groups, especially the LWML, while encouraging and inspiring others to be just as enthusiastic about serving their Savior as she and Pastor Voss always were. While society and most educators were still of the misguided mindset that the mentally challenged could not really learn abstracts, Alice tirelessly worked with them with repetitive Bible lessons created by her for their many levels of ability. She brought news of salvation through Christ to Southbury Training School, DATAHR, Monadnock Training Center in N.H., and to various individuals with special needs. Both Alice and Pastor Voss were honored for their service with special needs people in New England. Alice was a renowned, firm believer in recording events for posterity and was never without a camera at any event. She would never let the camera-shy be left out. As a result, there are many, many pictures in many, many grateful hands around the world attesting to her determined will. Alice has gone to be with her Lord, her parents, two sisters, and other family members, especially her husband Hans, her son Martin, and her grandson Jonathan Ruopp. She leaves those of us who miss them all: her children: Peggy and husband David Ruopp, of Raleigh, N.C.; Karen and husband Gary Sardone, of Danbury; Jean Sorokin, of Pasadena, Calif.; John Voss, of Raleigh, N.C.; Robert Voss, of Frederick, Md.; Timothy Voss and wife, Pattie, of St. Louis, Mo.; and Mark Voss and wife Suzanne, of Adamstown, Md. Also, her grandchildren and great grandchildren: Kristen Ruopp Mena and husband, Juan; Matt Ruopp, wife Maureen and son Jordan; Tara Ruopp; Jeffrey Ruopp; Beverly Sardone McKenzie; Peter Sorokin; Debra Sorokin Walker, husband Jerry and children: Rebecca, Caleb, and Zhenya; Julie Voss Bateman, husband Andrew and daughters: Morgan and Alyssa; Tom Seymour; and Alison, Kevin, Catherine, Jessica, Jamie, Dylan, Zachary, Lilia, Ethan and Emmie Voss. She will be fondly remembered by the many friends and acquaintances whose lives she touched in hundreds of ways throughout her 83 years of a full life. The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 13, 2007 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White Street, Danbury. Funeral services will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 18 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury at 11 a.m., Friday, September 14, 2007. Burial in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery will follow. The family requests that any memorials be directed through Immanuel Lutheran Church to the Voss Memorial Fund, the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, or the "Dreaming God's Dream" Fund. To light a candle of hope and remembrance, please visit our website at www.CornellMemorial.com