24/05/2025
A Tribute to Joanna Ruth Wehrman: A Life of Faith, Service, and Lasting Legacy
It is with heavy yet grateful hearts that we honor the life of Joanna Ruth Wehrman, a faithful servant of God who went to be with her Lord on May 24, 2025, at the age of 88. Born on May 27, 1936, into a family with a deep missionary heritage, Joanna’s life was a testament to the calling of Matthew 25:40 (KJV): “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”* Her legacy of love, sacrifice, and unwavering faith continues to shine brightly in the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea and in the hearts of all who knew her.
Joanna, a registered nurse, answered God’s call alongside her beloved husband, Winston Andrew Wehrman, to serve as missionaries in Papua New Guinea for 25 years. Together, they raised three daughters—Katherine, RuthAnn, and Brenda Sue—while pouring their lives into bringing health, hope, and the Gospel to underserved communities. Joanna’s work as a pioneer missionary nurse laid the foundation for transformative healthcare in Western and Southern Highlands Provinces, establishing facilities like the Pabarabuk and Kaupena Health Centres under the Papua New Guinea Bible Church Inc.
In 1972, Joanna founded the Pabarabuk Health Centre in Western Highlands, addressing the dire lack of medical services in rural areas. With compassion and skill, she provided basic care and trained local aides, creating a sustainable model of healthcare that endures to this day. The centre, now led by Officer-in-Charge Rex Kawa and Health Secretary Mek Pure, serves communities across Pabarabuk, East and West Kambia, Lower Nebilyer, and parts of Southern Highlands. It offers outpatient and inpatient care, minor surgeries, antenatal services, and obstetrics, standing as a beacon of hope for thousands.
Joanna’s influence also extended to the Kaupena Health Centre in Imbonggu District, where she worked alongside other missionaries, including Alma Bustin, Letina Bustin, and Beverley Wickham. Her efforts helped expand the church’s health ministry, which began in 1957, into a network of three facilities. Today, Kaupena employs 27 staff members and provides critical services like pediatrics, maternal health, tuberculosis treatment, and spiritual care through a full-time chaplain. Joanna’s vision of holistic care—ministering to both body and soul—continues to impact countless lives in this rugged region.
The PNG Bible Church, in a heartfelt message, celebrated Joanna’s sacrificial journey, noting her words to Rev. Wane Ninjipa: “PNG Bible should not mourn but celebrate her journey home.” Her footprints remain in the thriving clinics and the lives transformed through her ministry. As the church wrote, “The sacrifices she made in leaving her homeland to come to the wilds of New Guinea are now realized… We are ever so grateful for her and the Bustin family.” Her legacy embodies Psalm 147:3 (KJV): “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds,” as she brought healing to both physical and spiritual needs.
Joanna’s life was not without personal sacrifice. She was preceded in death by her husband, Winston, her daughter Brenda Sue, her granddaughter Samantha Grace Schuler, and siblings Lenita, Charles, and Paul Bustin. Yet, her love lives on through her daughters Katherine Dendler (Wesley) and RuthAnn Winters (Scott), her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister Claudine Chamberlin, and brother Gerald Bustin (Roana). Her family cherishes her wisdom, prayers, and the warmth of her spirit, which will guide them for generations.
As we reflect on Joanna’s life, we are reminded of Galatians 6:9 (KJV): “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Joanna never grew weary in her service, and her harvest is evident in the lives she touched, the communities she served, and the faith she shared. Her story challenges us to consider: How are we answering God’s call to serve the least of these? How can we, like Joanna, leave footprints of faith and compassion for others to follow?
Let us join in honoring her legacy by continuing the work of love and service she so faithfully modeled. As Joanna now rests in the presence of her Savior, may we echo her life’s prayer: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, KJV).
With gratitude and reverence,
The PNG Bible Church Family
