Louise Faust

Louise M. Faust, 87, of Evergreen Heights Assisted Living, died Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011. Louise was born Aug. 9, 1923, in Rock Island, Ill., daughter of the late Manley and Amelia (Stang) Norton. She married Harold V. Faust on Oct. 18, 1947, in Rock Island, the same year she graduated from Moline Lutheran Hospital School for Nurses specializing in obstetrics. In June 1948, Harold was ordained by the Augustana Lutheran Church and called to serve as a missionary in Tanganyika, East Africa. After almost a year of preparation, the Fausts set out on their journey to Africa. After her arrival in Africa, Louise was trained in the use of tropical medicines, general treatment, and diagnostics. She used this training to assist in the dispensaries at the various mission stations where they served. Little did she know this was the beginning of a 26-year nursing career. As time went on, Louise learned the Swahili language which made her work at the dispensary a little easier. Observing the customs and social structures of the Barabaig tribe and with her sincere love for them as human beings, she built a rapport with the women of the tribe. Delivering many of their babies, Louise was soon endeared with the nickname "Mama Gawistchi" which means "she who moves quickly." She and Hal continued their work in Africa until they returned to the United States in 1975. Only God knows how many hearts and lives were touched, but one thing is for sure, God worked many miracles through the Fausts' ministry. As a result, the Gospel reached the ears and hearts of many people. Their ministry brought them to Iron Mountain and Louise quickly became involved in the church and community. She worked as a registered nurse in the obstetrics department at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital. Louise was very active at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church and in the Upper Peninsula Cursillo movement. In 2004, Louise published a book detailing their time in Africa. When asked about this, she simply replied, "were it all to end tomorrow, I feel I have lived life to the fullest." Louise is survived by three sons, Mark (Vicki) Faust of Dallas, Stephen (Vicki) Faust of Spread Eagle, Wis. and David (Diane) Faust of Negaunee; two daughters, Ann (Ibrahim) Ismail of Oakland, Calif. and Linda (Brad) Karlgaard of Coeur D'Alene, Idaho; grandchildren, Peter (Jamie) Bandy, Bahanan, Dalmar, Ebado and Ismail Ismail, Seth, Ethan (Jennifer), Lindsey and Nathaniel Gibbon, Kelli (Lee) Westhafer, David (Chelsea) Karlgaard, Ingrid (Jon) Bechard, Elsa Faust, Eric (Chelsey Gerich) Faust and Daniel Faust; and great-grandchildren, Leila, Kira, Katrina and Henry. She was preceded in death by Hal on Dec. 28, 2006. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Richard Norton. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Friday at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. Funeral services will be held Friday at 12 noon at the church. Rev. Stephen Cowen will officiate. Burial will be in Dickinson County Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorials may be made in Louise's memory to Our Saviour's Lutheran Church for world hunger or Global Health Ministries mosquito bed netting program. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the love and compassion shown to Louise by the staff at Evergreen Assisted Living. Condolences to the family of Louise Faust can be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home with the arrangements.

Louise Faust

February 6, 1924 - February 6, 2011