Burial for Naomi Ruth (Vogt) Eitzen, 61, will be 9:30 am, Friday, May 4th , 2012, at the South Mennonite Brethren Cemetery, Fairview. Memorial service will follow at 11: 00 a.m. at the Fairview Mennonite Brethren Church. No public viewing at her request.

Naomi Ruth Eitzen was born January 9,1951 to Cornelius (Curt) and Esther Loewen Vogt at Salem Hospital in Hillsboro, KS. She has two older siblings, Shirley and Ranney. She grew up in a Christian home and as a result, accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age. She was later baptized in the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.

Naomi's mother instilled a love of music in her life. She took piano lessons for a number of years and when she was old enough to join the school band, took up the flute. Her love for the flute earned her contest awards, and in 1969 was selected to the Kansas Lions Club Honor Band, which toured Kansas and later performed at the Lions Club's International Convention.

In the fall of 1969, Naomi entered Tabor College where she majored in Elementary Education and Music Education with an emphasis in Flute. While in Tabor, she sang in the choir all four years. Between her Junior and Senior years, she spent the summer with a group of students in Atlantic City, New Jersey working at a drug store on the Boardwalk.

The fall of 1972, while doing her student teaching, she met a young freshman boy and began to date him (she was given the OK to date him by her supervising teacher, Leora Grunau, who happened to be a relative of Lee). Shortly after her graduation in May of 1973, Naomi and Lee were engaged.

That fall, she was hired as a Kindergarten teacher at Christian Challenge School in Wichita while Lee continued to attend Tabor. On May 31,1974, Naomi and Lee were united in marriage at the Hillsboro MB Church. After the wedding they made their home in Fairview. She was hired later that summer by the Fairview Public Schools as a Kindergarten teacher, a position she held for 34 of the next 37 years.

Naomi and Lee were blessed by the births of their 2 daughters, Jennifer in 1978 and Jessica in 1982. Naomi loved her job and loved to teach the children who were starting their "scholastic careers." Although an exact number cannot be obtained, estimates would indicate that she touched the lives of over 2500 children over the years.

She loved her church as well. She sang in the church choir for many years. She accompanied the choir on numerous occasions with her flute and played special numbers when asked. She continued to work with children in various capacities, including Sunday School teacher. Pioneer Girls, Primary Sunday School Superintendent, and most recently as a Power House teacher.

She enjoyed giving piano and flute lessons for many years. She also assisted in the Summer Recreation Program in Fairview leading crafts and working in the Library program. She encouraged her daughters' love of animals, helping them raise critters, such as cats, dogs, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs and fish. One year she even raised some quail that they had hatched at school.

Naomi loved working with her hands. She spent much of her summer working in her flower gardens, which received many compliments. She also spent much time sewing, crocheting, and in recent years, quilting. Her entries at the County Fair came home with many ribbons over the years.

The thing she enjoyed most was traveling. Naomi especially enjoyed the annual trips the family took to Colorado to spend time in the mountains and going to Oregon to visit her sister. In 2009, she and Lee celebrated their 35th anniversary with a two-week trip to Alaska, a trip that she claimed was the best vacation of her life.

Naomi's world changed in June of 2011 when she was diagnosed with cancer of the gallbladder. With mixed feelings, she retired from teaching that summer. She fought the battle for 10 months, always maintaining her faith in her Lord Jesus and having the desire that, whatever the outcome. God would be glorified. On May 1, 2012, at 3:30 in the afternoon, just as the school bells were ringing to dismiss the children to go home, Naomi also went home to be with her Savior.

She was preceded in death by her parents. Curt and Esther Vogt, and her mother-in-law, Lauretta Eitzen.

She is survived by her husband Lee, daughter Jenni Cabral and husband Billie of Salina, KS, daughter Jessica Eitzen of Woodward, OK, grandson Korbin Snesrud of Salina, KS, brother Ranney Vogt of Emporia, KS, and sister Shirley Adams of Salem, OR, as well as in-laws, nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be made to the Tabor Collage with Fairview Funeral Home, Inc. serving as custodian of the funds.

Condolences may be made online at www.fairviewfuneralhomeinc.com