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In memory of

Lyla Jane Balmer

Spanaway, WA

February 5, 1939 - October 2, 2018

Feb 5, 1939 - Oct 2, 2018

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Lyla Jane Balmer, 79, passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior on October 2, 2018 at home surrounded by her adoring children. From her birth in Hardin, MT, on February 5, 1939 to her death, she nourished and encouraged all those around her with boundless love, steadfast faith in Christ, and selfless compassion. Her children recall what a joy it was to be in her presence. She radiated love to all those around her and was a bright and shining example of Christian gentleness and patience. As one of her children described, “she was the embodiment of love - one that was unconditional, soul wrapping, heart hugging, and all encompassing”.

Known to her family as Jane, she was born to Otto and Lydia Unverzagt and was the youngest of two children. Beginning at an early age, Jane first displayed what would become her lifelong passion for teaching young children. She would carefully line up her dolls one by one in her family home and gently instruct them. After graduating high school, Jane attended Concordia Teacher’s College in Seward, NE, where she earned her teaching certificate. She began her career as a kindergarten and elementary teacher before relocating with her family to the Pacific Northwest. Jane would later describe this as a turning point in her life, recounting with great sadness that she was forced to pursue a different career upon learning that her teaching credentials were insufficient for Washington State.

Drawing upon her resourcefulness and a love of baking that was instilled by her mother, Jane became a Professional Baker at Poodle Dog Restaurant (Fife, WA) where she worked for 39 years to support her family. She cherished the deep and tender friendships formed while working there which lasted throughout her life. “Miss Jane” was a dedicated and diligent employee, a skilled artist in her craft. She was recently recognized by her manager and others in The News Tribute for her culinary achievements (https://www.thenewstribune.co… and https://www.thenewstribune.co… )

Jane held her walk with God above all things. So much so, that she wrote a confession of faith to be included in her final remembrance:

I, Lyla Jane Balmer, do hereby confess my faith in the one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I rejoice in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who was sent by the Father to forgive all my sins. I thank and praise God for so richly blessing me in this life. I thank Him especially for my wonderful, godly parents Otto and Lydia Unverzagt, who led and guided me in the Way of the Lord and who brought me as an infant to be baptized in that one true Faith.

Jane’s life was not without its share of trials. She lost her only sibling to cancer in her junior year of college, and her first pregnancy to miscarriage. She held two and sometimes three jobs at a time to support her family, sleeping many nights only 4 hours before returning to work again. She knew homelessness, abject poverty, the death of both her parents, and her life was touched by the sting of abuse. But all these things she “counted for as naught”, and instead of turning inward in anger, she turned outward toward love and used her experiences to encourage and bless others. As one such example, Jane formed a non-profit organization to assist battered women and worked tirelessly to raise money to support the legal expenses of victims of domestic violence. Simply put, she washed the feet of many.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Alvin Unverzagt. Left to honor Jane and remember her love are her six children and their spouses: Noye (and Pam) Balmer/Nevil, Kara (and Peter) Condon, Laura (and Karsten) Hagen, Martin (and Benjamina) Balmer, Jayna (and Darrin) Paradise/Sanford, and Faith (and Greg) Miller; eight grandchildren: Lydia Hagen, William Balmer, Nathalie Paradise, Henry Hagen, Luke Balmer, Emmett Balmer, and twins Jack and Katherine Balmer; and nieces/nephew who knew her as Auntie Janie: Mickey Unverzagt, Alix (and Blair) Johnson, Patrice (and Mike) MacDonald, and Ken (and Nicole) Gore.

Viewing will be held on Tuesday, October 9 beginning at 3pm at Parkland Lutheran Church, 120 123rd St S, Tacoma, WA. Funeral services begin at 6:00 in the evening at the same location with the Rev. Glenn Obenberger preaching. Burial will follow later in the week on Friday, October 12 at 1:00pm at Fairview Cemetery in Hardin, MT. As a tribute to her life’s purpose, memorials may be made in Jane’s name to Parkland Lutheran Church School Tuition Fund (https://www.gofundme.com/lyla…)

The Balmer family would like to extend our gratitude to the many family, friends, pastors and members of Parkland Lutheran Church, and hospice staff who supported her throughout her life and battle with cancer. Her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren await the joyous Resurrection and the Communion of Saints where they can once again break bread with her and join her in the feast at our Lord’s heavenly table.

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