Esther Stine (95) of Brownstown

Esther Emma Sophia (Rath) Stine, 95 of Brownstown, IL was welcomed home by her loving Savior on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 12:48 pm.

Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 26, 2022 at her home Church of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Vandalia, IL. Pastor Timothy Landskroener will be officiating. The visitation will be held on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022 from 4-7 pm at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and also an hour prior to the funeral service. Interment will be at Griffith Cemetery in rural Brownstown. Gieseking Funeral Home, Brownstown is assisting the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that memorials be made to one of the following organizations: Brownstown First Responders (306 E. Cumberland Road, Brownstown, IL 62418), Sandra R. Stine PE/Health Scholarship c/o the BCUSD #201 Foundation (421 S. College Ave., Brownstown, IL 62418), or the Holy Cross LCMS Sanctuary Renovation Fund (726 W. Fillmore St., Vandalia, IL 62471).

Esther was born on April 13, 1927 to Carl F. and Rosa F. (Berg) Rath in rural Mason, IL. She married Loren E. Stine on September 29, 1951 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in rural Altamont. He preceded her in death on Dec. 13, 2002. Esther loved the Lord and her family. A lifelong member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Esther led by example and had a positive impact on everyone with whom she came into contact. Esther worked hard on the farm with her parents growing up. Later, she worked in Springfield, IL as a nanny/domestic. When she and Loren made their home in Brownstown after their marriage, Esther worked with him on the farm, while raising their three children. Although Esther was known to say she was a ‘housewife’, her family knew that she was so much more! She was a dedicated volunteer for any activity that her children were involved with at church or at school. She enjoyed working in her vegetable garden and would can and freeze from the bountiful harvests. As the years made gardening more challenging, Esther's garden patches became smaller and transitioned into biennials and perennials flower beds. Esther and her neighbors enjoyed the splash of color that enhanced her yard each year. Esther cooked, baked, sewed, created and crafted. Her family loved coming to visit or to have her in their homes because Esther would light up a room and make everyone feel special. Esther not only told her family and friends that she loved them, but would show her love and affection in a myriad of ways. She genuinely cared about others and will truly be missed.

Esther is survived by her son Charles E. Stine (Tina) of Knoxville, TN, and daughters Emma (Mike) Verdeyen of Neoga, IL and Sandra Stine of Brownstown, IL; grandchildren, Megan (Devin) Althoff of St. Joseph, IL, Whitney (Chris) Lastarza of Port Orange, FL, Carlton (Nicole) Stine of Bowling Green, OH and Molly (Dustin) Stuckemeyer of Effingham, IL; great grandchildren, Loren & Wade Althoff, Chloe Lastarza and Connor & Jacob Stine; as well as numerous nephews and nieces, and a multitude of great nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Louis (Hilda) Rath, sister Gertrude (Melvin) Wurl and in-laws, Charles (Blanche) Stine, George (Arizona) Stine, Katherine (Bill) Peeks, Margaret (Roy) Durbin, Joe Stine and Bill (Helen) Stine.

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