Elizabeth Wunsch

Betty Wunsch was a wonder of a woman, one of the rare individuals so completely dedicated to living her life simply to serve others, and to serve the Lord. An amazing woman, with a truly amazing life, one who helped people all across the world, across races, across classes and across cultures. Betty was a deeply devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother, but most of all, she was simply a great gift to us all, a gift we will cherish and remember forever.

Betty's remarkable story began on a cool spring day in 1916, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Those were exciting times for so many in this country, as for the first time, a middle class arose from our workforce, and so many had much to celebrate. That was certainly the case for John and Lucy (Vander Til) Van Kammen, who celebrated the birth of their third child on April 29, 1916, a beautiful baby girl they named Elizabeth.

Betty joined older brothers Richard and Maxwell in the Van Kammen home, which thanks to her carpenter father's profession, was located in several different places over the years. Her father would build a home, they would live in it until it was sold, then they'd move on, and so on. Her mother worked as a seamstress, ensuring her children were always well dressed.

Betty was quite close to her older brother Max, who sadly had health and developmental problems, and died in his early 20s. As a child, Betty took great pride and joy in teaching Max to read, one of the first instances of her innate passion - and calling - to help others in teaching.

Betty attended Eastern Avenue Gospel Hall. Because she was very shy, she became a Christian privately in their home when she was just 8 years old even though she was greatly influenced at the church by the preaching of Mr. Henry Ironside. As a teenager, Betty began her missionary "training" by teaching Bible classes in predominantly African-American neighborhoods in Grand Rapids, where she made so many friends with the women in her classes.

Because they moved around so much, Betty attended many schools before graduating from South High School, where she played piano for the high school orchestra.

Graduating during the depression, Betty found only odd jobs, including teaching piano, before finding secretarial work at Eerdman's Publishing four years after high school, where she worked at unofficially editing books as well as sales. But she soon had more than her professional life on her mind as Gerald Wunsch, a young man 5 years her senior entered her life. They found a common ground in their love for the Lord, and in their passion for doing His work. After a time, the young couple was married on August 21, 1942, beginning a wonderful, fulfilling life together. However, Betty's love for books continued throughout her life. She was committed to literacy and teaching as methods for spreading God's Word. She entirely gave away a modest inheritance in the early 1950's to a mission printing press, for example.

Jerry worked as a farmer and a beekeeper, while his new bride left her job to become a homemaker. Soon, though, the husband and wife became father and mother, as well, when they celebrated the birth of their daughter Faith.

They enjoyed their life, yet the couple longed to spread God's word. Through prayer, they were drawn to teach the people of New Guinea about the Lord. Jerry was commended by his church elders to go there and teach, but he couldn't get a visa, in those days after World War II. So instead, they sold the beekeeping business, bought a travel trailer to live in, and set out across the United States, teaching Bible classes and helping in small assembly chapels wherever they went. Louisiana, Texas, Arizona and California came and went for them, and son David was born in Arizona, rounding out the happy family.

Wherever they were, Betty made their house a home, not with fancy items, yet always making the home look pretty, clean and neat. Growing up in the Depression, Betty was a frugal woman with very few luxury items. She had some china tea cups collected over her travels and with these she was known to serve tea and homemade brown bread in the New Guinea bush to fellow missionaries coming in from trekking.

Eventually, New Guinea needed teachers, and allowed Jerry a visa, but not to teach the Word - to teach beekeeping. Betty waited in Australia with the children while Jerry went on to New Guinea to establish a mission station in 1952. After 3 months the family was reunited in New Guinea, an answer to prayer.

Over the next 50 years, Betty and Jerry were completely devoted to doing God's work there, teaching Bible classes, and helping so many people in such desperate conditions. Betty loved the people, learned the trade language and one native dialect, helped establish schools, and administered medical care - even delivering babies! She believed with all her heart the words of Jesus "I am the way, the truth and the Light, no man cometh unto the Father but by me" and she desired to share that truth with others.

Of course, Betty also cared for her own family there, as well. She home-schooled her own children before Faith headed back to the U.S. for college and David attended high school in the Philippines, which was a very difficult time for Betty. But she raised them in a loving (and interesting) home. They received their supplies by trail trek two days from the nearest airfield or from local grown produce so Betty had to carefully plan what and how to cook it to get her family through the next order. She learned they had each other and that God was faithful.

When her children left New Guinea for further schooling, they kept in touch through letters, written faithfully each week, living two or three weeks behind of when letters arrived. Phone calls were rare and special and only happened when Betty and Jerry moved to the coastal town of Varimo. A three-minute Christmastime call was like getting a $60 gift!

In 1959, the family received their first furlough, and returned to the U.S. every four years or so. When their grandchildren arrived, they took shorter but more frequent trips home. They always made it home to see their new grandchild as an infant. And while they didn't see their grandkids often, they tried to never miss an important event, such as weddings or graduations, and loved all the grandkids dearly. Betty prayed for them daily, with their picture adorning her walls. Their great-grandchildren were so special to them, as well, such a huge blessing they were so grateful for.

Eventually, Betty and Jerry "retired" in 1993, returning to the U.S., and settling in at Rest Haven. Of course, they picked up right where they left off at Rest Haven, and remained incredibly active. Betty taught Bible study there, and was also active in studies at Forest Hills Bible Chapel, and started the after school kids Bible clubs at Kent Hills Elementary. She and Jerry also volunteered their time to taking people to their doctor's appointments or wherever they needed to go, acting as Rest Haven's "wheels" for many years.

Sadly, Betty's beloved husband Jerry passed away in October of 2005, after so many wonderful years together, a lifetime of devotion to each other, and to God's work. Betty of course missed him terribly, yet felt she had more to do still. In the last few months, her focus shifted from earthly matters to how her joy would be complete in heaven as she meditated often from the Psalms which she loved.

On Tuesday, September 19, 2006, her joy became complete, as she went to be with her Lord. Betty was an amazing woman, whose life truly revolved around what she could do to help others, and help spread God's love. Whatever the conversation, Betty could bring it back to God's Word, but always in an inviting, comfortable way, the Scripture naturally flowing from her lips, and from her heart.

In grade school, a teacher once told her to never lose that beautiful smile - and she never did. Betty's smile reflected a mind trusting in God, resulting in so many blessings in her long and amazing life, blessings she so graciously shared with the whole world, as a wife, mother, friend and teacher.

To the countless lives she touched, to the thousands of people she helped, Betty was more than a teacher of God's love, she was living proof. She will be so greatly missed. Her life verse from Isaiah 26:3,4:

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength" (KJV)

Mrs. Elizabeth "Betty" F. Wunsch, age 90 of Grand Rapids, went home to be with the Lord on September 19, 2006. Her husband, Gerald, preceded her in death in 2005. Mrs. Wunsch is survived by her children Faith and Richard Hamilton, David and Jean Wunsch; grandchildren Chad and Meg Hamilton, Beth and Jason Walker, Carl & Kristen Wunsch and Karin Wunsch, 4 great grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 26 at 11 AM at Forest Hills Bible Chapel, 4637 Ada Drive SE. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with her family on Monday from 2-4 at Rest Haven Homes, 1424 Union NE, and from 7-9 PM Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE. For those who wish, memorial contributions to either Christian Missions in Many Lands or Rest Haven Homes are appreciated. To read more about Betty's life, to share a favorite memory or photo, please visit www.lifestorynet.com