Ella Mathilda (Deines) Fabrizius was born January 15, 1918 to David and Elisabeth (Dietz) Deines on the family homestead in rural Barton County near Galatia, Kansas. She died October 1, 2016 at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital Long Term Care at the age of 98.
Ella was baptized March 17, 1918 and was confirmed in 1932 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Galatia. She attended Barton County Public School (Haig) in Galatia receiving her 8th Grade diploma May 28, 1931. In 1938, she moved with her parents to rural Trego County where she joined Zion Lutheran Church at Trego Center and worked for neighbors, caring for children, cooking, washing, cleaning, and milking. She married Rubin Fabrizius, at Zion, October 12, 1941, and they began their family and farming/ranching operation. Rubin was inducted in to the United States Army on October 28, 1942 and was honorably discharged October 7, 1945. During these years Ella alternated living with her parents and Rubin’s parents 6 months at a time with their first child Ruben Gene (born August 20, 1942) until he returned.
Ella spent the next 57 years as a homemaker, farming and ranching with Rubin, south of WaKeeney, until their retirement in 2002 moving to WaKeeney. Those years were filled with work, family and worship. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Ladies Aid, now WELCA, Society of Germans from Russia, and a lifetime member of Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.
Ella was an accomplished seamstress and cook. Her butterscotch pie was equal to her sister-in-law and closest friend Helen who she loved to visit with over the telephone, always speaking in German. She had a sweet way of endearing herself to others and was known and loved as “Aunt Ella” to a great many nieces and nephews and loved children, especially babies. Ella was a self-taught beautician who cut, permed, “finger-waved”, curled and braided the hair of all her family members. She sewed countless beautiful clothes for herself and her family including elegant prom dresses for her daughters, and loved looking at pattern books and envisioning how they would be fashioned with fabric choices. She also enjoyed quilt making and embroidery, but her greatest treasure was her family.
Ella was a devoted wife and mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, her legacy of kindness, hard work, honesty, loyalty, faith, generosity and love of family is unsurpassed, and she leaves beautiful memories of a long and wonderful life.
Ella was preceded in death by her husband, Rubin of 72 years, March 4, 2014; her parents; infant daughter, Mary Jane; brothers, Louis, Herbert and Emil Deines; infant sister, and sisters, Marie Wilhelm, Tabea and Rachel Fabrizius; granddaughter, Julie Fabrizius-Clerihue, grandson, Matthew Fabrizius; daughter-in-law; Connie Fabrizius; and great-great-grandson, Jaxon Daniels.
Ella survived by five sons, Ruben (Gene) and wife Judy, John, Paul, Curt, Carl and wife Sarah, all of Trego County; two daughters, Ruth Tinkler & husband, Delton, and Sara Sherwood and friend Don Flax, all of Trego County; a brother, Paul Deines of WaKeeney; 18 Grandchildren, Rebecca Karlin and husband Mark of Aurora, Co, Andrea Fabrizius and Andrew Fabrizius of Peoria, AZ, Heather Tuttle of WaKeeney, Heidi Tuttle & fiancé Andrew of Salina, Holly Decker & husband Travis of Russell, Jeremiah Tuttle of Fort Collins, CO, Tyler Fabrizius & friend Kyra Turley of WaKeeney, Olivia (Fabrizius) Peterson and husband Kyle of Lindsborg, Amelia Fabrizius of Hesston, Isaiah Fabrizius of Lindsborg, Rubin and Eli Sherwood of WaKeeney, Ella Sherwood of Hays, Emily Keen & husband Chris of Colby, Tracy Braun & husband Travis of Victoria, Joshua Sherwood & wife Amber of Gardner, and Summer Sherwood of Wichita; 21 great-grandchildren, Candace Karlin of Chicago, Madison Karlin of South Bend, IN, Amani Fabrizius of Peoria, Kristian Tuttle of San Diego, Madeleine and Camrie Tuttle of WaKeeney, Mollie Buchholz of Ellis, Ashton, Liberty & Bo Decker of Russell, Dru, Ellie & Jace Keen, Colby, Colton Braun of Victoria, Hugh Turley and Adell Fabrizus of Wakeeney, Tia, Rylee & Brayden Sherwood of Gardner, Acelyn & Promise Robert of Wichita; three great-great-grandsons, Maxuim, Justin and Riley Daniels; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, October 6, 2016 at Zion Lutheran Church, Trego Center – South of WaKeeney, KS. Visitation will be Wednesday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 at the church. Memorial contributions are suggested to Zion Lutheran Church. Contributions made to the church can be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.
Words of comfort may be left online at www.schmittfuneral.com by signing the guest book.