Baerg, Anna (1897-1972)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1972 Mar 24 p. 29

Birth date: 1897 Jan 28

text of obituary:

ANNA BAERG

An invalid at the Menno Home, Abbotsford, B.C. since 1965, Anna Baerg of Clearbrook went to be with the Lord on February 16. She was born to Gerhard and Anna (nee Mathies) Baerg in the Crimea, southern Russia, on January 28, 1897. Though she was never strong physically, and a defect in her back became apparent, in her 12th year, she gave her life to the Lord and sought to serve him with all her energies. She was happy to confess her faith in Christ through baptism and was received as a member of the Alexanderkrone Mennonite Church. In her youth she studied to become a kindergarten teacher. Her physical powers were not equal to the task, however, and she had to express her love for children and young people in other ways. She spent a great deal of time in self study, and wrote much poetry, some of which was published in various publications.

After the death of her father in 1919 and the difficult years following the Revolution, her mother decided to immigrate to Canada. The family came to Canada in 1924 and eventually settled on a farm near Dominion City, Manitoba, where they farmed for many years. There they joined the Arnaud Mennonite Brethren Church, and Anna devoted much of her energy to Sunday school and girls' work.

In 1946 she moved to Winnipeg with her mother, joining the Elmwood Church. Following the death of her mother in 1952, she lived for various lengths of time with other members of her family in Alberta and British Columbia.

She is survived by two sisters, Nela (Mrs. John) Jantzen of Waldheim, Sask., and Maria (Mrs. Aron) Isaac, Boissevain, Man,; four brothers, Gerhard and wife Hilde of Yarrow, B.C., John and Martha Baerg of Virgil,Ont., Willie and Margaret Baerg of Zaire, and Henry and Elvira Baerg of Winnipeg; and sister-in-law Katie Baerg of Coaldale; as well as many other relatives and friends. The funeral was conducted from the Clearbrook Mennonite Brethren Church on February 22 with Herman Lenzmann ministering.