Esther Marie Wease

October 20, 1927 - June 16, 2020

Esther Marie Heilman Wease, 92, of Oskaloosa, Iowa, went to her heavenly home on June 16, 2020. She was born Thursday, October 20, 1927 at the family farmhouse near Green, Kansas. She was the second child of David M. and Clara M. (Rieker) Heilman. The family attended the Ebenezer Methodist Church. They never missed church even if the snow was very deep. Daddy would hitch up the horse and take us in the spring wagon. She loved to dig tunnels in the huge drifts and pretend to have a snow house. She would put down a rug for the floor. It was nice and cozy inside. She attended grade school at a one room country school: and then at Miltonvale Wesleyan Academy, Miltonvale, Kansas. She started teaching in the country schools following high school graduation and then attended Greenville College, Greenville, Illinois earning her teaching degree and teaching a total of 23 years. July 28, 1973, she married Dr. Jack Wease and became a Pastor’s wife. Jack and Esther traveled all over the United States and to many foreign countries, including Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Honduras, China and Germany where all of her grandparents were born. Esther often spoke of the theme of test/comfort/God’s faithfulness. She loved to read her Bible and was a woman of prayer. Praying for her family by name and for missionaries all over the world. She was active in the World Gospel Missions Prayer Band. She loved working in the yard, gardening and sewing. In Esther’s own words: “At a camp meeting under a grove of trees, in a tent, with a floor of straw, as a small child the lord spoke to me and I went forward, knelt at the altar and confessed my sin. The Lord came and gave me such peace. At age 86, I can say as in Psalm 91, I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress my God in whom I trust.” Esther is survived by two step-children: Wesley Vernon Wease of Dallas, Texas; Joy (Alexander) Wease Boutakov of Garland, Texas; four grandchildren and one great grandchild; two sisters: Naomi Rogers and husband David of Sandy, Utah and Miriam Westenhaver and husband Robert of Chattanooga, Tennessee; two sisters-in-law: Margaret Heilman of Circleville, Ohio and Gloria Heilman of Beaumont, Texas; many nieces and nephews. Esther was preceded in death by her husband: Jack Wease, her parents; three brothers: Philip Heilman, Paul Heilman and Wesley Heilman and one sister: Ruth Chestnut Graveside Services will be held Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 1:00 pm in the University Park Cemetery with Pastor Dave Brown officiating. Those wishing to attend the Graveside Service may meet at The Bates Funeral Chapel to go to the cemetery in procession. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. According to the rules put in place by the Iowa Department of Public Health, proper social distancing and reasonable personal protective equipment is advised for attending a religious public event. The funeral will be live streamed at the funeral home’s YouTube Channel for those wishing to support the family from a distance. Memorials may be made to World Gospel Mission.