Sarah Jane Brisbine

BRISBINE, BEACH, WAGNER, ROAN

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 11/15/2018 at 11:44:38

2 June 1927 - West Branch Times

Mrs. Sarah Jane Brisbine, aged 70 years, 9 months and 21 days, passed away early Monday morning, May 23, at the home of her son, Dr. R. E. Brisbine, of Mason City, Iowa. She had been confined to her bed most of the time for sixteen weeks, suffering from an enlarged heart. She has been a most patient sufferer and as she saw herself slowly weakening, she was anxious and ready to go.

She had come from the home of her daughter in Colorado six months ago, and expected to return for the summer. Even through her illness it was her one desire and wish to recover sufficiently to return to the beautiful mountains at Log Cabin, Colorado.

Sarah Jane Beach was born at Perth, Quebec, Canada. Her father died when she was three years old, and she, with her mother, brothers and sisters, came to Wisconsin to live. In 1877 she was united in marriage with William Columbus Brisbine at Red Wing, Minnesota. They came to Iowa and settled on a farm near Downey, where they reared their family. One son, John, passed away at the age of 18 years. The other surviving children are Mrs. Amanda Wagner of Log Cabin, Colo., Mrs. N. C. Brisbine of Baker, Montana, and Dr. R. E. Brisbine of Mason City, Ia. She is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Lizzie Roan, of Chicago, Ill.

Mrs. Brisbine was a member of the Methodist Protestant church of Downey, Iowa, where she loved to serve. She was a Rebeckah for many years and held her membership in the West Liberty Chapter. Hers was a life of service to those in need in her community. She was always called to the homes where death came, and she did what she could. At the ushering of little lives into the world she was there to help ease the suffering of those who went down into the valley of the shadow. Her home was the home of the orphan. She gave shelter in her home to not less than six orphan children at various times in her life. Many learned to know and love her as a real mother. The beautiful tributes paid her through the many letters which came during her illness only prove the more the love and esteem in which she was held by those whom she had befriended.

A short service was held at the Randall Funeral Home in Mason City on Tuesday morning, May 24, conducted in a beautiful and simple manner by the Rev. C. D. James, pastor of the Olivet Methodist Episcopal church, who chose as his text James 4:14 "What of my life?"

Funeral services were also conducted in the Methodist Protestant church of Downey, Iowa, on Thursday afternoon, May 26, by Rev. William C. Perdew of West Branch. The body was laid to rest in the Downey cemetery.