Elsie Isensee Hill, 96, of Decatur, Illinois went to be with her Lord and Savior on May 25, 2016. She was born September 25, 1919 in Tolleson, Arizona to Ezra Ruben and Marguerite Houghton Beedle. She was preceded in death by both her parents, two sisters in infancy, four other sisters, five brothers, husband Frank Eugene Isensee, Jr. of Modesto, California, second husband J.W. Hill of Springfield, Missouri and son Kenneth Eugene Isensee of Spring Hill, Kansas. She and her first husband, Frank Isensee, served as ordained Assemblies of God missionaries to Peru, South America Frank Isensee lost his life in an accident in the high Andes Mountains in 1951. Elsie then served as a missionary in Mexico before returning to Peru. Elsie returned to the United States and spent 22 years working in various positions at the Assemblies of God Headquarters in Springfield, Missouri.
Elsie leaves behind daughter Margie Isensee Briscoe and her husband Steve of Decatur, Illinois; daughter-in-law Darlene Isensee of Spring Hill, Kansas; granddaughter Lori Hutchings (Bryan) and great granddaughter Ashley Illum of Springfield, Missouri; granddaughter Kendra Meeker (Danny), great granddaughters Brooklyn, Kaysie, and Baylie Meeker, and great grandson Matt Bronx O’Meagher of Olathe, Kansas. Brothers Edward Beedle, Danny Beedle and sister Nell Stangeland of Olympia, Washington also survive her.
Besides her missionary work, Elsie was very active as a volunteer in various organizations including the Springfield, Missouri Area Literacy Council, of which she served as President; a member of the Board of Trustees of Laubach Literacy International; served for two years on the Governor’s Advisory Council for Adult Literacy for the State of Missouri; twelve years of volunteer service with the Chaplain’s Office at the Federal Prison in Springfield, Missouri and many years of service in the Ladies Auxiliary of Evangel University. Elsie is also the author of the book Abused But Chosen. She was a featured speaker at many women’s conferences both nationally and internationally.
Elsie loved to garden and delighted in her flowers. She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed nothing better than setting a beautiful table and sharing delicious meals with her family and friends. She especially enjoyed sharing a good cup of tea in her special collection of china teacups. She sang in her church choir and taught Sunday School for many years.
Elsie left this message found in some of her writings: “What do I most want to be remembered for? Dedication, commitment and faithfulness.” She loved her God with all her heart, soul and mind. She was dearly loved and will be dearly missed… until the resurrection.
The family would like to give special recognition and thanks to the wonderful staff of Fair Havens Christian Home, and Safe Havens Hospice of Decatur, Illinois for their loving service and care.
Visitation will be held Thursday, June 2nd at Greenlawn North Funeral Home, Springfield, Missouri from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. followed immediately by the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting a tax deductible donation be made to the Wawawasi Foundation through Paypal at www.wawawasifoundation.org or checks made out to Wawawasi Foundation and mailed directly to P.O. Box 120937, Chula Vista, California 91912. This foundation was established by Sharron Hall and is a ministry in Arequipa, Peru that reaches out to underprivileged and abandoned children and adults.