Marie Schellenberg, age 94, departed her life here for a glorious homecoming in Heaven on June 5, 2014. After a serious stroke 12 days earlier, she passed quietly in her sleep at her son's home in San Diego. Marie was born on August 6, 1919, in Granite City, Illinois. Her family moved to Gary, Indiana, during the Great Depression. She became a Christian at age 15, and three years later began her studies at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Her major was Missions with an Evangelical Teacher Training Award. She learned to teach children Bible stories using flannel boards and visuals, skills she would use to reach hundreds of children during her lifetime. It was also during her time at Moody that she was introduced to a new organization called Child Evangelism Fellowship with its Good News Clubs. After graduating in December 1940, she applied to a home mission organization called Missionary Gospel Fellowship which served migrant camps in California and Arizona. She worked with team members in camps from Firebaugh to Imperial Valley, providing children's classes and Bible study groups for families migrating to California after the "Dust Bowl". While in Shafter helping with a Vacation Bible School at the North Shafter Labor Camp, her car broke down and a young farmer came to her rescue. This is how she met Menno Schellenberg, whom she married in November 1942. He was a graduate of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles and shared her desire to serve the Lord with Missionary Gospel Fellowship. Together they ministered at the South Shafter Labor Camp until its closure in 1956. Then Menno and Marie moved with their church group to the First Baptist Church in Shafter. Menno became the Youth Director and Marie was the church secretary for the next 10 years. Later Marie became a clerk for the Shafter Justice Court for 15 years. After her retirement, she and Menno loved working together in Good News Clubs every week at the Sierra Vista Mobil Home Park and the Mexican Baptist Church. They also enjoyed camping in their motor home with family and friends. Marie's favorite activities were cooking and sewing. Marie's husband Menno passed away in 2002. She is survived by two daughters, Evelyn Webb and Marilyn Hansen, and one son, Larry Schellenberg; also 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. A viewing will be open from 4-8 PM on Friday June 13 – Peters Funeral Home, 844 E. Lerdo Highway, Shafter. Her memorial service will be held on Saturday June 14 at 12 noon – Valley Bible Church, 350 Pine St., Shafter.