The gift of love continues on
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Bill and Mildred Nienaber had a 58-year, love-filled marriage. When he died in 2009 at age 93, Mildred's life was turned upside down. They had weathered life together as helpmates. One of the hardest things she had to do on her own was sell the house the couple had built 47 years earlier. That home, lovingly and meticulously cared for by the Nienabers, was much more than a place to hang their hats. It was a dwelling for their hearts, an outward sign of the love and care they gave to one another.
The home once held many cherished personal items. Over the last several years, Bill and Mildred began giving those items to nieces and nephews whom they felt would enjoy them. While it was sometimes hard -- such as giving the organ they both had once played to a niece after Mildred's vision began to fail -- parting with the house was immensely more challenging. The house was clearly a labor of love and a source of pride for Mildred and Bill.
"Building the house was different than buying a house," she said. I think we loved every inch of that house. It meant a lot together."
Mildred decided the house could continue to be a source of love for others as a gift to Mosaic. The home, readily showing the care of a couple who loved it, sold quickly and Mildred gave the sale proceeds to Mosaic where others could benefit from the couple's devotion.
"It is important to help others," Mildred said.
Mildred grew up in a family that supported Martin Luther Homes, one of the predecessor organizations that become Mosaic in 2003. Her nephew, Jim Nienaber, is also a supporter of Mosaic and suggested that the home would make a good gift to the organization.
"We had a lot of faith in Martin Luther Homes," she said. "It provided for children and the help that a lot of people needed."
Not boastful in anyway, Mildred is quick to note that she has had many blessings in her life. She puts a good marriage at the top of the list. Although they were married for 58 years, their relationship began much earlier. They had known each other from childhood and just "kind of grew up together," she said. They waited to marry until age 35, though, because Bill had serious asthma.
"We waited for each other," she said. "He waited for me and I waited for him. There wasn't anyone else that I thought as much of as Bill. We hoped the Lord would answer our prayers that his health would improve and it did."
The couple began their married life in Beatrice, Nebraska, home to Mosaic's campus that was formerly Martin Luther Homes. Bill was working as a carpenter with his brother, Walter. When business got slow, Bill and his brother Walter decided to check out Colorado as a place where growth was happening. He discovered that his asthma was better in the mountain air. So the couples (Bill and Mildred, Walter and his wife, Deloris) moved to Boulder where they developed a successful carpentry and construction business.
"I followed my husband," Mildred said. "The carpentry worked out very good for all of us."
Also on Mildred's list of blessings would be something she calls, simply, "a good life." The couple enjoyed hobbies -- framed prints of beautiful nature photos Bill captured hang in Mildred's apartment, and crocheted doilies of Mildred's making dot the furniture. Working together, the couple made many artistic quilts, one of which hangs in a Museum in Beatrice and another was donated to Mosaic's home office. They also traveled, taking short motorhome vacations to local states in the fall and spring.
In Boulder, they were active at Trinity Lutheran Church, and Mildred still enjoys attending regularly. Faith, and the charity that is part of it, was a part of both of their lives from their earliest days. Years ago they gave a pipe organ as a memorial gift to their church, and over the years many of the quilts they made together were given to Lutheran World Relief.
"Prayer was very important in our life each day," she said. "I think he has answered many of our prayers. The Lord let us stay in our home until it wasn't possible any longer."
Mildred said she is surprised that she has lived into her 90s. But it is clear, also, that she is grateful for a long life that was shared with a man she admired and loved in a home they built together.
"I've had a good life," she said. "We both did."
Thanks to her gift to Mosaic, others will share in that good life as well.
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Cor 13:13)
