Ingrid Weber

Ingrid (Lenk) Weber, went to heaven on Ascension Day, May 13th, 2021 at the age of 83. She was the third and youngest child born to Herman and Luise Anna (LeiBner) Lenk in Gelsenkirchen-Horst Germany, on June 23rd, 1937. Her childhood was punctuated by the difficulties of war. Her kind father, an interior decorator and wallpaper man by trade, was forced into service in the German military. He was eventually sent to Russia and the family never received word about what happened to him. In the midst of such trials, a theme of Ingrid's life was her dedication to prayer: ""This was my greatest privilege, to learn at a very early age to pray… We prayed in our basement and bunker during airstrikes, we prayed for our papa to come home, and for the war to end."" In the midst of the challenges, Ingrid's childhood also had some bright spots. She warmly remembered riding on her father's bicycle handlebars on the way to their small storefront-church; the scent of lilac bushes in the small backyard where the family worked to to grow vegetables and delicious berries; the taste of mushrooms that her mother skillfully gathered in the forest; and Lenk family birthdays: ""My mom was sure to make a birthday cake… We sang a lot in our family, but when my mom prayed to bless my new year I would get tears in my eyes.""Ingrid continued to sing all through her life, frequently singing with her sister Margaret in Germany over the telephone, and teaching her great grandchildren to sing harmony together before meals. After WWII, the family lived in an apartment owned by the church, where Luise took care of the meeting hall and Ingrid’s job was to care for the lawn. Psalm 68:5 says, ""God is a father of the fatherless."" This fact is very evident when surveying Ingrid's life. In August of 1950, at age thirteen, during a week-long Church of God ""Camp Meeting,"" the song ""Come to the Cross with all Your Burdens"" was sung, and Ingrid came to Jesus. ""I knew there was a knock on the door of my heart. I responded and went forward to the altar. I wept and asked the Lord to forgive my sins and come into my heart."" At the end of the week, Ingrid was baptized along with her sister Margaret, and her cousin Helga. Ingrid finished elementary school at age fifteen, and after that worked for two years in a print shop binding books. When she was seventeen, she went to bible school for one year. Ingrid experienced a heartbreaking engagement in her late teens, and decided after that, that she would solely trust the Lord to provide a husband for her. Little did she know then how her heavenly father would exceed her expectations. During this time, Ingrid felt the Lord speak to her the name of an American city: Chicago. Also, she felt that her husband's last name would be Weber. In 1959, a handsome young man named Helmuth Weber returned from his home in Chicago to his native Germany, serving as a delegate to the international Church of God youth conference. Ingrid also was in attendance. In her own words, ""I suppose it was love at first sight."" Helmuth asked to escort Ingrid home after each of the night meetings, and at the end of the week he proposed to her. After speaking with the family and Ingrid's pastor, they were officially engaged. Ingrid loved Helmuth from the start, but she counted leaving everything to follow him the hardest thing she ever did. ""When I became engaged to Helmuth in 1959 at the conference, he had to leave for America. We wrote to each other for over 15 months. When I got my immigration visa and had to say goodbye to my family, friends, church family and homeland, it was a very big step of faith. At the same time, I was glad to be with my Helmuth."" They were married December 10th, 1960, at the Belden Avenue Church of God in Chicago, Illinois. Their marriage of 58 years had a profound impact on anyone watching. Their first-born son Harold, was born in September the following year. Bernie came along in 1963. The same year, Helmuth and Ingrid bought a one bedroom home in West Chicago, along with one acre of land and lots of trees for the boys to climb. Steve was born in 1965. In June 1967, Ingrid and Helmuth proudly became United States citizens. While they appreciated their German heritage, German foods, and German friends, they were very grateful for the United States and the opportunities they were given and would regularly, patriotically fly the American flag. Family was a main priority of Ingrid's life. When the boys went to school, she worked part time as a switchboard operator and then later worked for a greenhouse starting plants. Ingrid loved her sons very much. One story she told frequently was how one time Harold, Bernie, and Steve decorated the entire house with hearts as a surprise for her and Helmuth on Valentine’s Day. The extended Weber family gathered frequently at their home. Over the years, some of Ingrid and Helmuth's family visited from Germany as well and spent many precious times together. Their home was always open to missionaries, neighbors, church family, and the many friends that their boys brought home. Hospitality was a skill that Ingrid honed and exercised in a legendary manner. Many many meals were share around their dining room table. They were always connected and committed to a local church and developed many lifelong friendships through their different church family connections throughout the years. In 1991, Helmuth retired from his work with AT&T. They moved to a lovely home in Nokomis, Florida. Helmuth drove the U-haul and she followed in their Chevy Caprice, which was a real challenge for her, but they arrived safely. Ingrid and Helmuth enjoyed many happy years in Florida. Prayer and hospitality continued to be themes in their lives as they cared for some of their older neighbors. Ingrid was fortunate to make some very wonderful friends in Florida. Helmuth and Ingrid made annual trips to Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Chicago, to stay in touch with their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and extended family. After Helmuth's death, Ingrid spent some extended time in the summers with her seven great grandchildren, playing, helping with the garden, learning to fish, and teaching the children to pray. Even recently while on hospice, Ingrid went missing, and she was found playing hide and seek concealing herself on the floor of her pantry so her great grandson Oric wouldn't find her. Ingrid's favorite Bible verse was Hebrews 11:6: ""But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."" Ingrid had many opportunities to exercise faith during her time here on earth. After the death of her beloved Helmuth in March of 2019, she leaned more steadily upon Jesus to supply the patience and grace that Helmuth had previously supplied. She trusted Jesus more as she grew closer to the reality of heaven. Ingrid is glad again to be with Helmuth after their brief separation these past two years, but greater still is her joy to be with her Lord. Ingrid's desire for all of her family and friends would be for each one to know that same joy of having a ""vital relationship with God"" through faith in Jesus Christ. She is survived by her sister Margaret Lubek of Essen Germany; her three sons: Harold Weber of Carol Stream, IL, Bernie Weber of Glendale Heights, IL, and Steve (Meg) Weber of Williamsburg, VA; her four grandchildren: Lindsay (Josh) Baker, Cara Weber, Bethany Weber, Josiah Weber; and her seven great grandchildren: Oric Miller, Anna Baker, Elise Baker, Hudson Baker, Ethan Baker, Justin Baker, and Jerry Baker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Helmuth Weber, her parents, Herman and Luise Anna Lenk, and her brother Siegfried Lenk. A memorial service will be held for Ingrid at Covenant Life Church, PCA, 8490 McIntosh Rd. Sarasota, FL 34238, on Wednesday, May 19. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM and the service will begin at 10:30 AM. The service will also be live-streamed and will be available on the church's website, www.covenantlifepca.com or at this link: https://youtu.be/L8498gob4Zg. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, please direct any memorials to Wycliffe Associates, www.wycliffeassociates.org, P.O. Box 620143, Orlando, FL 32862. Information and guest book are available at www.farleyfuneralhome.com. Ingrid's family would like to thank all of you for your generous outpouring of prayer, love, and support, during this difficult time. Visitation Information Date: Wednesday, May 19, 2021 Time: 10:00 am - 10:30 am Covenant Life Church Address: 8490 McIntosh Rd. Sarasota, FL 34238 941-926-4777 | Map Service Information Date: Wednesday, May 19, 2021 Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am Covenant Life Church Address: 8490 McIntosh Rd. Sarasota, FL 34238 941-926-4777 | Map Cemetery Information Date: Wednesday, May 19, 2021 Jesse Knight Cemetery Address: Colonia Lane, , Nokomis, FL, 34275 | Map