Sr. Margaret E. Isenbart, CSJ

Sister Margaret Ellen Isenbart (Verda Elizabeth), 106, entered eternal life on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Mt. St. Mary’s Convent, Marian Hall, Wichita, Kansas. Sr. Margaret Ellen was born November 21, 1919, to Henry and Eva (Kunzman) Isenbart in their country home, in Woods County, Oklahoma, eleven miles northwest of Alva, Oklahoma. She was the eighth child in a family of four girls and five boys. The first four years of Verda’s education were spent in a one-room country school. After the Sacred Heart Parochial School opened in 1929, she received the remainder of her elementary education there. Secondary Education was not required at this time, so she spent the following years doing domestic work at home and in other homes nearby. Eleven years later she entered Cathedral High School in Wichita and completed her freshman year. Verda decided to enter the Sisters of St. Joseph June 6, 1943. She received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph and religious name of Sister Margaret Ellen March 19, 1944. Her final profession was July 25, 1949. Sr. Margaret Ellen served her God for 83 years as a Sister of St. Joseph. Her teaching career of 30 years took her to three states and 15 schools: 13 schools in Kansas, 1 school in Oklahoma and 1 school in California. When she retired from teaching, she worked in the ministries of pastoral care and family ministry. When she retired to the Mount in 1999, she continued to assist wherever she could be of assistance. She is preceded in death by her parents Henry and Eva (Kunzman) Isenbart, her sisters, Sr. Agnes Mary, Julia Yantz and Sr. Sedonia, and her brothers Cecil, Lawrence, Adam, Von and Frederick. She is survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins and the members of her religious Congregation.

The Wake Service will be Friday, March 20, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. All services will be at Mt. St. Mary’s Convent, 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, Kansas 67218. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to the Retirement Fund for the Sisters of St. Joseph or Dear Neighbor Ministries/StepStone, Mt. St. Mary’s Convent, 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, KS 67218.