Ilva Elaine (Peters) Bourn, 90, of Wauseon was united with her Lord on Monday, November 7, 2022. Mrs. Bourn was born on October 12, 1932, in Haskins, Ohio, the seventh of twelve children of the late Cleo and Mary (Mininger) Peters.
On August 11, 1950, she married Junior Robert Bourn. Junior and Ilva enjoyed 64 years of marriage before he passed away in early 2015.
Ilva was an avid gardener, seamstress, child care provider, and mother.
She came to know Christ as her Savior at age 18, and served Him the rest of her life.
After Junior’s retirement, she followed him to Traverse City, Michigan, where she served as a faithful and loving pastor’s wife and servant of the Lord.
She served as Sunday School teacher for many years both at Faith Baptist Church in Wauseon and Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Traverse City.
She shared her testimony with countless people and mentored many young people and adults.
She loved to worship her Lord and Savior and prayed often for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends.
Surviving Ilva are her children, Seth (Diane) Bourn of Melbourne, Florida, Cheryl Bourn of Wauseon, Cynthia Evans of Fayette, Sandra Heising of Wauseon; Kathleen (Craig) Frank of Wauseon; Michael (Brenda) Canada of Archbold; and Melody Royal of Washington, D.C; 20 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren, with one on the way; and many nieces and nephews.
Ilva was preceded in death by her husband, Junior; daughter, Tina Graber; son-in-law, Douglas Evans; a grandson, Christian Michael Canada; great-grandchildren, Isaac Andrew Downing, Sylvie Soleil Heising, and Jasper Henry Heising. Ilva was also preceded in death by her eleven siblings.
Visitation for Ilva will be held from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 12, 2022 with the funeral service immediately following at Faith Baptist Church, 15879 County Road F, Wauseon with Pastor Randy Titus officiating. Interment will follow in Bayes Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Faith Baptist Church, Wauseon or Faith Missionary Baptist Church, PO Box 6837, Traverse City, MI 49696.
The Edgar-Grisier Funeral Home of Wauseon is honored to serve the Bourn family.
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