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Silas and Edna Stucky: Our Love Story

An excerpt from “Our Family Blessings” by Edna Stucky

I met Silas for the first time at a Burns Church youth picnic in the pasture. It was a beautiful October evening in 1945. I knew some of the youth from that church, so they invited some of my brothers and me to join them in the fun and games and a basket dinner. I especially remember the game "Farmer in the Dell.” It seemed Silas always chose me for his partner, and I was quite pleased. When I had to choose, I thought, “why not,” so I chose him. It really turned out that we only had eyes for each other, but then I was only 16 and Silas was 17. When the party was over and he walked me to the car, we both agreed we had a good evening. That was the beginning of a good friendship, courtship and marriage. The next three years were filled with going to ball games together, to church Sunday evenings, to the county and state fairs, rodeos, and the Fourth of July celebration in Peabody. I knew from the very beginning of our friendship that this man held a deep place in my heart. Every time I saw him coming over the hill in his father's blue '38 Chevy, my heart felt a great joy like never before, and I never wanted it to go away. I would pray to God, “Lord, if it be Thy will, let this love continue.” And I thanked Him for this constant love. With a loving God and loving man, I just felt my cup was full; my joy was overflowing …

On Sunday evening, June 16, 1948, Silas and I were invited to my brother's house for supper. After a good meal and some games, we started for my house, but before we got there, he stopped the car, unlocked the glove compartment, which he had never done before, and brought out a little box and gave it to me. He said, “I have something for you.” With a shaky hand and excitement in my voice I said, “You do?” It didn't take me long to snap the lid back and there was the most beautiful diamond ring I had ever seen. I don't remember if it fit me, but I knew it was mine, from the most wonderful man in the world. How I loved him …

Residents Silas and Edna (Guhr) Stucky of Elbing celebrated 71 years of marriage on August 26, 2019. They were married in 1948 at the Emmaus Mennonite Church of rural Whitewater and enjoyed farming all of their lives trusting God as the Provider for all things. In their early years of marriage, they farmed in the Burns and Peabody areas and attended the Burns Mennonite Church.

In 1956, God provided a farm north of Elbing and this became their home for the next 53 years, where they raised four daughters, Elaine (Schmidt) of Elbing, Bonnie (Stan Graber) of rural Burns, Nadine (Friesen) of British Columbia, Canada, and Diane (Mark Veer) of rural Newton. Many hands made light work and working together as a family brought many blessings.

When they retired in 2009, they passed on the farm to a grandson and moved into Elbing for their retirement years. The Zion Mennonite Church and the Elbing community have friendships that run deep.

In 2018, they moved to an Independent apartment at Presbyterian Manor in Newton. Life centers around their friends and their family of 64 and counting as they have 15 grandchildren, their spouses, 37 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us" (1 Samuel 7:12) is their life verse as they depended on Him for wisdom and grace.

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