Barbara Corzatt - 8/13/24

Sadly we gather today, just two months after Paul Corzatt’s death to remember and celebrate the life of Barb Corzatt. It is sad because we will miss the big imprint Barb had on everyone’s life. We, however, do know there is no reason to be sad about where Barb is. We have a deep assurance in our hearts that she is with the Lord.

One of Barb’s favorite passages was Ecclesiastes 3.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace.

9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time.

And we are strengthened today by the Words of Jesus,

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Our hearts are not troubled today, because we believe in God, and we believe in Christ Jesus who died for us and rose from the dead.

Please pray with me,

Our Father, our hearts are heavy before you. We know Barb lived a good and long life. We know she would have rather gone to be with you than remain the way she was becoming. We know this, but we still weren’t ready for her to go so quickly after Paul. We know we grieve because we have been blessed to love and be loved, but still we ache.

Gracious Father be present among us today. Grant us your comfort. Help us to celebrate this life that was so well lived. And help us to draw close to you so you might teach us from this life how better to live our own lives.

[SONG]

I don’t remember the specifics of the first time I met Barb Corzatt but it was not long after I had moved to LaHarpe. I didn’t know who she was, but I knew she loved the Lord. It was obvious in the way she talked, the genuineness of her smile, and her joy-filled spirit. I am grateful I was able to get to know her over the years.

Barb loved her parents even though as she was growing up, everyone in the family called her Bobbie Jean (perhaps because that is all her brother could say.) Barb wrote that when she first got to school she didn’t realize her real name was Barbara Jean (which must have made roll call a little awkward). As the years went by Barb often prefaced her advice with the words, “My mom always said . . . “

Barb and Paul were married almost 76 years! It wasn’t always easy, but they worked as a team. They were often seen, even at the Elms, holding hands. In later years Barb was the chauffeur going where Paul wanted to go. It had to be difficult for both of them when Paul was trying to communicate something and Barb didn’t know what he was trying to communicate. But she hung in there.

Barb was a remarkable woman. She spent her life serving (and loving) other people. She was the first woman Director of the Raritan Bank. While she was there she saw the bank expand with two branch locations. The Bank loved Barb because she knew people and who was a good person for a loan and who wasn’t. She loved doing the job but had to retire at 70 by bank policy.

Barb was a caretaker for many over the years. She continued that throughout her life. If someone was sick, she was either there to help or she brought some food. She delivered meals, served as an election Judge, and served in various capacities at the La Harpe Christian Church (she was involved with the youth while she had kids involved). Even when she was in the Nursing home, she would often go from room to room to check in on people. One woman had been screaming for a long time and the staff didn’t know what to do with her. Soon they realized the screaming had stopped. When they checked her room, there was Barb, rubbing the woman’s back. It was just her heart doing what she did best.

While at the Elms, she helped fold towels and one day helped make sandwiches (because she believed she had to bring lunch to the guys on the farm). As a farm wife Barb, would do anything; she would drive a truck, a tractor, run errands, test corn, or get lunch out to the fields. She always had sweet tea in the fridge in case anyone “needed” some.

When the kids were growing up, Barb made their clothes. She even made Carol’s wedding dress. She worked hard to raise her kids to show respect and honor the Lord. Gary learned that you don’t swear around Barb because the taste of soap is a good deterrent. Wayne found out that when you are fidgeting in church or someplace you should be sitting still. One time mom held up her hand saying, “Do you see this hand.” The wrong answer from Wayne was “yes!” Because of that answer that hand sprang to your face like a mouse trap that had been tripped.

When the kids started to date, they all got a warning talk from mom about the consequences of the decisions they would be making. She was fond of saying, “You will have to live in the bed that you make.” Gary asked his mom once about some of the details of his conception. She commended his inquisitive mind and told him nothing! Wayne wanted to know if he had been an “oops” baby and Barb told him never to say that again and assured him that he had been deeply wanted and was a cherished blessing.

After Paul’s mom died, Paul’s dad came to the house for all three meals every day! He arrived at 7:00 a.m. every morning and had some specific requests for his food. Barb managed this while trying to raise four kids. Many wives would have never put up with this, but Barb did. She had compassion on the Sr. Mr. Corzatt. Barb was a great cook and made incredible “deviled eggs”. She was constantly making something to share with someone in need.

Barb had all the kids take piano lessons. Barb loved music and wanted to instill that same love to her family. . . .more on that in a couple of minutes.

Barb saw a lot of change in her lifetime. She remembers the first day when electricity was put in her house. She remembered warming her bed with heated rocks form the fireplace. You may not know this, but Barb liked to yodel. She liked to pretend that she was Dale Evans who, was the wife of Roy Rogers (which I know, means nothing to many of you). She loved horses and at 80-years-old Carol got her on a horse and Barb rode around the lot singing “I’m an old cow hand!” She did have a fun sense of humor.

Barb and Paul used to like to go to the Casino when it was in Ft. Madison. They viewed the machines as amusement, like a night at the movies. They only spent so much and had a great time. In all those years Barb was proud of the fact that she never had a speeding ticket. In fact, she drove herself to the DMV to get her last license at 91 years old.

She didn’t understand why she was unable to drive anymore. She called Jensen once and asked if he knew where her car keys were. She called another day to ask, “What is wrong with my car and why can’t we find anyone to fix it?” Even at the Elms she asked if one of the employees would take her to the car dealership so she could buy another car and take Paul home.

Barb was the Queen of mushroom hunting. She never disclosed her secret spots. I’m told she knew how to cook the mushrooms also. She went out mushrooming with Debbie once and they didn’t do very well. Barb brought Debbie home and then went back out mushrooming. She returned with lots of mushrooms. Apparently, she wasn’t going to tell Debbie her secrets either!

One of the yearly highlights was going to all the nights of the Fort Madison Rodeo. They loved the rodeo.

But all of these things fall to at least 3rd place in her life behind her strong faith and her love for her family. Barb and Paul wanted the family to gather for special days and holidays. Six times a year you were “expected” to be there. Often, these big gatherings would be at the brick “party house” because it was bigger.

Leslie remembers swinging on the swing on the front porch of their home. Barb loved to pass on to the grandkids the stories of her childhood. She was always available for counsel and at time of prayer. Kristen remembers a special time when Grandma gave her wise counsel and prayed with her. Barb always had the right words and an understanding and compassionate heart.

Many of the Grandkids looked forward to “Grandma’s Day.” It wasn’t an official day of the year. Often it might take place a few times a year. It was a day when Grandma gathered the grandkids for games, a field trip, some good food, and a whole lot of loving from Grandma. She might play baseball, ride the 4-wheelers, and would get involved in whatever game of activity they were doing. She was investing in her grandchildren (and giving their parents a break). She had a knack for making every grandchild feel special and cherished. It was easy for her because she saw the treasure in each of the kids. She encouraged them in life and in faith. When they spoke or sang in church she would give them a dollar to encourage them in their Christian walk.

Barb was proud that Julie and Leslie sang often in church and in the Wagon Wheel Opry. She enjoyed sitting at the piano and playing songs (especially hymns) for all to sing. Kristen’s last memory was of Grandma singing hymns together while Kathy played the piano. Barb knew all the words.

Barb asked Craig to sing to her often. She helped develop his love for the guitar and at the beginning, Barb played her guitar with him. She asked Craig to play and sing hymns to her and he happily obliged. She also got him a keyboard. When her kids and grandkids got married, Barb treated the in-laws like her own children. They were family and she loved every one of them. She advised her children and grandchildren to always “love and listen to their children and make them feel special because each child IS special.”

Wayne remembers Barb wrapping Christmas presents in the comics from the paper. She was always looking for creative ways to share the joy of the season.

She used to call Wayne and Debbie’s house and let them know that she had “Apple Babies” (a favorite snack) all prepared. Barb had a wonderful ability to share the joy of each of her children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. Each of the kids knew they were cherished by Grandma because she showed it in numerous ways.

Barb had lots of advice. Family members can remember going through her purse for treasures she always had in there. She would say things like,

“Just stay as sweet as you ae, and don’t sweat the small stuff.”

“Love you to the moon”

“love you always and forever”

And “This too shall pass”

Barb found any words she could muster to encourage her family to put Christ first in their lives. She not only said it, but she also showed it every moment of her life. Just a couple of years ago Barb told Julie “God has a plan and I won’t question His plan.” When Kathy played the piano, Barb sang along with the hymns. When you talked to Barb about Jesus, Barb passed on her legacy of faith. Julie said, even in these later years when Barb would get confused, you could start talking about faith and suddenly “you were talking in the same time zone, and it was like she had no memory problems. She knew His Word.” Chris said she embodied what it meant to be the hands and feet of Jesus and said he was the person he was because of her. Craig said Growing up, my brothers and I would always try to “out love” her before we’d leave her house saying: “I love you more than you love me… to the moon and back … times infinity”. He said he knows he will someday worship with her in Heaven.

Near the end of her life she said she knew her end was coming but Paul would die first. She was at peace. For her, death meant she would finally make that trip she had looked forward to all her life. She would see and be welcomed by the Savior she had loved for so long. Barb Corzatt leaves a legacy which should inspire each of us to serve Him better and to love each other more passionately. We thank God for her life and the way we saw Him more clearly because of her.

[SONG]

It seems hard to believe that this same group of people was gathered in this same place just two months ago to mourn the death of Paul Corzatt. Now we meet together once more to mourn Barb’s death as well.

Neither Paul’s nor Barb’s deaths were unexpected. They had both lived more than 90 years, and they had each begun to decline. Both of them were ready to leave this earth and be welcomed into the arms of their Savior. In that sense, we have some peace about the end of their lives on this earth.

But just because we felt they were ready to go, it doesn’t mean that we are ready to let them go. Sometimes people think that grief is a sign of weakness, or even a lack of faith. We act like being saddened by the death of someone we love is wrong. That simply isn’t true. Grieving isn’t a sign of weakness, but of love.

Jesus experienced the death of His friend Lazarus. This was actually part of Jesus’ plan. He had intentionally delayed after hearing that Lazarus had fallen ill, knowing that Lazarus would die. Even so, notice how Jesus responded when He saw Lazarus’ family.

32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them.

They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”

38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. (John 11:32-38, NLT)

It is interesting to me that Jesus had an anger that welled up inside of Him as He saw these people He loved grieving. Jesus himself even began to weep. These strong emotions continued to well up inside of Him as He stood outside the grave of His friend. The question is, why did Jesus grieve? Why did He cry? Why was He angry? After all, if you know the story, you know that Jesus restored Lazarus to life! This seems like a strange response, given what Jesus knew was about to happen.

I believe Jesus mourned with His friends because He knew this was not the way it was supposed to be. Jesus understood the pain of losing someone you love. He understood that even though Lazarus’ sisters knew they would see him again at the resurrection, they were still reeling from the loss they felt in that moment. Jesus understood the pain of loss, and He grieved that this was part of the human experience.

The Apostle Paul similarly understood that grief is an unfortunate part of the human experience. But Paul pointed out that for a person who has trusted in Jesus, there is hope, even as we grieve. The Christian understands that death is not the end of the story. Listen to what Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4,

13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, NLT)

Paul reminds us that for a person who has trusted in Jesus to forgive them for their sins, death is not the end. The end of this life simply marks a transition point. Not only that, it also marks the beginning of an even better existence that we cannot even fathom. When a believer dies, they are delivered from their bodies which have been tainted by sin. They are able to finally experience life the way God intended!

For Barb, this means her memory has been restored. She will no longer get confused. She has been delivered from the body that had been slowly failing her for so long. This means that even though we grieve for our loss, we do so with hope, because we know what she has received. Barb has lost nothing but gained everything.

But we can also grieve with hope because we know that we too can receive the same thing. Barb is not in Heaven today because she was a good person, a kind and caring woman, or even because she was a regular church attender. She is in Heaven today because she understood that she was a sinner who was in desperate need of a Savior! I think it is telling that even once she had seemed to forget many of the other things she once knew in her life, she never forgot her love for Jesus. This is because He was central to everything she did.

I can say with confidence that the greatest thing Barb would desire for me to share today is how you too can know Jesus. She would want you to be able face your life and even your death with the same confidence that she did. And the only way that can happen is if you recognize that you have broken God’s laws and deserve to be separated from Him, recognize your need for a Savior, and embrace and follow Jesus as the only One who can save you both now and for all eternity. I would encourage you today to make sure of where you stand with Jesus. Decide today whether you will trust Him and follow Him as the Lord of your life, or whether you will ignore Him. One way offers hope and assurance, the other does not.

Today, I don’t intend to tell you that you needn’t grieve the death of Barb Corzatt. But I do want to remind you that we do not grieve like those who have no hope. We have a confident assurance of where she is, and that we too can be reunited with her again one day.

But while we know that she has lost nothing and that we would not want her to be returned to the body and existence she has now been delivered from, we also know that we have experienced a loss that is real and impactful. It is ok to mourn the fact that there will be no more conversations sharing stories from the old days, there will be no more advice or prayers from her, there will be no more warm hugs, and there will be no more hymn-sings around the piano with her. Those are genuine losses, which lead to genuine grief.

I would remind you today that Jesus understands your loss. He understands your pain. And He mourns with you. I hope that you will come to Him in those times of pain, in the times of weakness, and cast your cares upon Him—because He cares for you and will grant you peace and comfort.

My hope is that even as you mourn the loss of these things, you will also find comfort and even joy in remembering the times you did have. I pray you will be reminded of the many blessings you were able to share with such a wonderful person. And I hope that the example she set for you in her life will continue to bear fruit in yours, and that as you see her continuing impact in your life, you’ll stop and thank God for the life, the love, and the legacy of Barb Corzatt.

As I conclude, I want to draw some lessons from Barb’s life, that we can each hopefully carry with us.

1. Family is a blessing that should be cherished and treasured. Make time to get together regularly, make time to build memories together, and spend time building into one another. An investment in others is never wasted.

2. Marriage is a great blessing, but also a tremendous responsibility. It’s easy to look at Paul and Barb in the nursing home, holding hands and wish that we could each have a relationship like that—but that relationship was the fruit of years of hard work and commitment to each other. And I think they would both tell you that all the hard work was worth it. Invest in your marriage, and you too will find the blessing God intends.

3. Music is a wonderful way to express what we are feeling inside, and it should be shared with others. Take advantage of opportunities to rehearse solid biblical truths through song, don’t be afraid to sing a silly song that makes you feel joyful, or even to let out a little yodel when that properly expresses your joy.

4. Grief, while painful, is also a reminder of a deep and abiding love. When we grieve, it is a reminder that we truly loved. In the times when grief arises, I hope you’ll be reminded of the deep and abiding love that causes you to grieve.

5. Faith is something you need to share with those around you. Don’t be afraid to tell your children, grandchildren, and family members about Jesus, and about the difference He makes in your life. And remember that your words carry even more weight when those same people see the practical effects of your faith in your own life. Never underestimate the power of a kind word, a sincere prayer, a helping hand, or a listening ear.

6. Recognize that each person is unique and different. Rather than lamenting that people are different than you are, work to see the treasure God placed in them, and seek to encourage their unique gifts, interests, and abilities.

7. If you cultivate these traits of serving others, they will eventually become second-nature. If you’ve been consistent in loving those around you, you’ll continue to do so, even when everything else seems confusing. So strive to be consistent in living for the glory of your Savior—then you will have developed a pattern that will stick with you, no matter what may come in the future.

Will you pray with me?

Our Heavenly Father, we are so grateful for the life of Barb Corzatt. Thank you for the love, the lessons, and the legacy she leaves behind in her family and those with whom she interacted. Father, today we recognize that even though we grieve with the confident hope that Barb has been delivered from the pain and frustrations of this life, we still grieve. We grieve our loss, knowing that she has lost nothing. Lord, we ask for your comfort and your strength for these friends and family today and in the days and months ahead. Grant that they will be comforted by their fond memories, the lessons Barb taught, and by her vibrant faith. But above all, we ask that you would grant them yourself and the comfort that you alone can give. Surround them with yourself, we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.