Fayette VanRyn

Fayette Joy (Felten) Van Ryn slept into her Savior’s arms and eternal rest just after midnight, Sunday, February 18, 2018, after an eighteen-month struggle with bone cancer. She was born on December 18, 1937, to Carl and Frieda (Heuss) Felten in Schofield, Wisconsin.

Fayette graduated from D. C. Everest High School, class of 1955. She studied accounting for one year at the UW Extension (now UWMC) in Wausau, then worked full time in the payroll department at the Marathon Corporation (now Domtar) before marrying William (Bill) Van Ryn, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, on August 29, 1959, and moved to Grand Rapids. In 1965 Fayette and Bill, with their three children, moved to Puerto Rico as missionaries, where their fourth son was born, continuing there in ministry until 1975. They then moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, continuing in missionary activity with Hispanics locally as well as in travels to several Central or South American countries.

After her sons were grown Fayette worked as a CNA in Florida. She loved caring for folks in need or in pain. She had a heart full of the love and compassion of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was very active most of her life ministering to children in neighborhood Bible classes and Sunday schools. A favorite project was the Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry and she was always shopping for items to fill hundreds of shoeboxes over the years.

A favorite Scripture of Fayette’s was Proverbs 31 (read it), taking it seriously as a model for her life; she was a classic Proverbs 31 woman, a truly liberated (in Christ) woman who ran an efficient household, and her husband supported her and trusted her absolutely.

Fayette and Bill returned to live in Weston in 2001.

Fayette was preceded in death by her grandparents and parents, several aunts and uncles, and her brother Roger. She is survived by her husband, Bill, her brother Ron, and four sons: Todd (Sherry) of Wausau, David (Susan) of McHenry, IL, Nathan (Susan) of Elmhurst, IL, and Luke (Dawn) of Barrington, IL; thirteen grandchildren: Brittany, Cody (Rachel), Chad (Kelly), Dilan (Laura), Austin (Becky), Carley, Andrew, Lindsey, Kyle, Gabriel, Ito, Madilyn and Sadie; and five great-grandchildren: Makayla, Jack, Reese, August and Brenna.

Funeral services for Fayette are: Visitation at Helke Funeral Home, Wausau, from 3:00 to 7:00 PM on Sunday, February 25. A Visitation at 10:00 AM will precede her Memorial Service at 11:00 AM on Monday, February 26, at Bible Truth Chapel, 1600 N. First Avenue, Wausau.

Our family wishes to thank the amazingly kind and compassionate people who cared for Fayette in her last illness. Words can never express fully our appreciation for the loving attentions of all the staff at the Marshfield Clinic Cancer Center in Stevens Point, St. Clare’s Hospital, Weston, Pride TLC in Weston, and Ministry/Ascension Hospice.

You may sign the family guestbook at www.helke.com.

Fayette would be honored if you’d send your memorials to Samaritan’s Purse/Operation Christmas Child at Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.