Juanita Arvilla Garberick was born on Feb. 15, 1912, in Elkhart to the late John Raymond and Ruby (Wetzel) Kentner. She received her education in Elkhart and graduated from Elkhart High School. On August 3, 1929, she married Elmer Elden Garberick in Cassopolis, Mich. They lived in Elkhart and their marriage was blessed with two children.

Elmer died on November 21, 1992. Juanita was a homemaker who loved to cook, bake, crochet and sew clothing for her children. She also enjoyed visiting with her family and friends.

Juanita was an active member of Grace Bible Church, where she taught Sunday school for many years. She was also one of the first workers in child evangelism in Elkhart County. She moved to Hubbard Hill Retirement community in 2000. In May of 2008, she entered Sanctuary at Holy Cross.

Survivors include her son, Thayne Garberick, and his wife, Judy, of Granger; a daughter, Wilda, and husband Marlin Pankratz of Mountain Lake, Minn.; three granddaughters and their husbands, one grandson; three great-grandsons; sister Betty and her husband, John Whittington, of Elkhart; one brother-in-law, Joseph Garberick and wife Dorothy of Goshen; and a sister-in-law, Virginia Garberick of Elkhart. Four nieces and eight nephews survive as well.

She was preceded in death by her husband; two sisters, Marietta Kentner and Mary Manderfeld; a brother, Rex Kentner; brothers-in-law Harold Schuster, Ralph Brindley, Harvey Manderfeld and Devon Garberick; her sisters-in-law, Mary Jane Garberick, Velma Brindley, Evelyn Schuster and Millie Kentner; and a grandson, Steven Gray.

Friends and family may call from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 17, 2008, at the Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, where a service to celebrate her life will follow at 3 p.m. Pastor Mike Fisher of Grace Bible Church in Elkhart will officiate. Private burial will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Osceola, Ind.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials in her name to Grace Bible Church, 54230 C.R. 5, Elkhart, IN 46514.

To share a memory of Juanita or to leave a condolence for her family please visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com