Vanita Elizabeth Engelbrecht, (nee Johnson), age 89, died in Christ on August 30, 2026.  

Born on November 8, 1936, in Oneida, NY to the late Cole, Sr. and Pearl (Cunningham) Johnson, Vanita was known for her welcoming smile, her love for her family, and trust in her Lord Jesus Christ.  After graduating from Canastota High School, Canastota, NY in 1956, she attended SUNY Geneseo with the dream of becoming a teacher, until she caught the eye of Adolph William "Duke" Engelbrecht, a young dairy farmer. In 1958 the couple married at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Oneida, NY.

Vanita was a life-long resident of central New York State where she managed a busy farming household in both Madison and Oneida Counties. After raising 6 children, she provided in-home family care to individuals through the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities for over thirty years. She was active in Madison County 4-H, in the Munnsville Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, and enjoyed researching family genealogy. For four decades, she found great joy in serving as the church organist at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Oneida/Canastota, N.Y., as well as providing accompaniment during worship at various senior care facilities and Trinity Episcopal Church in Canastota, NY. Each autumn she could be found organizing and serving Redeemer's annual congregational German dinner. In later years she was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Rome, NY, and after relocating to Columbus in spring 2026, she joined Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio.

Vanita was proceeded in death by "Duke," her beloved husband of 67 years, by her parents, and by her brothers W. Gordon (Charlotte), and Cole, Jr. Johnson. She is survived by her six children: Marc of Oneida, NY; Eric (Bonnie) of Princess Anne, MD; Amy (Lawrence Jr.) Rast of Fort Wayne, IN; Lisa (Thomas) Parlato, of Waterford, OH; Edward (Susan) of Columbus, OH; and Wendy (Michael) Moore of Palmer, AK. Vanita had fourteen grandchildren: Eric II, Cory (Brittany), and Shawn (Kelsey) Engelbrecht; Lawrence III, and Karl (Meredith) Rast, Joey Saturn; Ethan and Owen (Rebecca) Parlato; Alexander (Jennifer), Christian, and Caleb Engelbrecht, Gretchen (Nathan) Escobar; Rebecca and Jacob Moore. She had sixteen great-grandchildren: Xander, Ayden, Noah and Sawyer Engelbrecht; Adaleen Landers, Oliver, Phoenix and Theo Engelbrecht; Jake and Cole Hammer, Graham, Frederic, and Lane Rast; Miriam and Matthias Engelbrecht, and Gianna Escobar, as well as her beloved niece and nephews.

Vanita trusted firmly throughout her life in God's promise in Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

A celebration of her life and faith in Christ Jesus will take place on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 11 AM at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 80 E Markison Ave, Columbus, OH. Memorials may be made to Emmanuel and St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 502 W Chestnut St, Rome, NY 13440.

To sign Vanita's online guest book and to leave a condolence for her family please visit www.graumlichfuneralhome.com

Arrangements with GRAUMLICH FUNERAL HOME, 1351 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43207.