Elva B. Atz

Elva B. Atz, age 88 of Elizabeth, Illinois, passed away Thursday, April 5, 2018 at the Lena Living Center in Lena, Illinois. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at Grace Bible Church in Woodbine, Illinois. Burial will follow in Woodbine Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at the Grace Bible Church. A memorial fund has been established in Elva’s memory.

Elva was born on September 1, 1929, in Woodbine Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, the daughter of Delbert and Ella (Schreck) Heidenreich. Elva attended Woodbine School and Elizabeth High School and graduated with the Class of 1947. Elva married the love of her life Alvin Arthur Atz on September 5, 1947, at the United Methodist Church in Elizabeth. They celebrated 48 years of marriage. Alvin passed away April 21, 1996. Elva and Alvin farmed for many years in Elizabeth.

Elva had a deep faith in the Lord Jesus Christ which began with a personal decision to accept the Lord as her Savior with the help of her older sister Helen when she was a child. She was always an active member of whatever church she attended including the Evangelical United Brethren Church of Woodbine, Calvary United Methodist Church in Stockton, First Baptist Church of Warren, and Grace Bible Church of Woodbine.
Elva loved music, playing the clarinet, accordion, piano and singing. She also directed the youth choir at the EUB Church in Woodbine, and later she led the First Baptist Church Choir in Warren, Il. While she attended the Grace Bible Church, she sang in the church choir. Elva also taught Sunday School. She enjoyed making quilts and doing embroidery work. Elva was known by many for her baking, including her wedding cakes. She was always a willing hostess, heading up family and church gatherings in the farm house kitchen. She treasured the time she spent with her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren.

Elva is survived by her son Tim (Lori) Atz of Durand, Illinois; three daughters, Marcia (Steve)Thompson of Warren, Illinois, Laurinda (Carlton) Stayer of Odessa, Missouri, Jeannine (Kevin) Miller of Buffalo, Minnesota; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; a sister, Faye Heidenreich of Elizabeth. Elva was preceded in death by her husband, son, Richard Alvin Atz; daughter, Nancy Bernice Atz; four brothers, Eldon, Dwight, Laverne, Allen Heidenreich; two sisters, Helen and Florene.