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Fretz, Marjorie Gage (1911-1972)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Oct 12 p. 8
Birth date: 1911 Mar 29
text of obituary:
. . .
• A number of friends from the Newton area attended memorial services last Sunday afternoon in the Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church, Wichita, for Mrs. J. Millard (Marjorie) Fretz, 61, who died unexpectedly on Oct. 4. Mrs. Fretz suffered a stroke that morning, and died in the evening at a Wichita hospital. She was employed as a secretary at a Wichita elementary school. Private burial services were held Saturday in Wichita. The Fretz family formerly lived at North Newton while Mr. Fretz served as a coach and instructor at Bethel College. He now teaches in the Wichita school system. Also surviving in the immediate family are a son, David, of Rutland, Vt. and a daughter, Mrs. Stanley (Donna) Voth of Topeka. Rev. Melvin Schmidt, the pastor officiated at the memorial service and was assisted by Rev. J. Herbert Fretz of Goshen, Ind. and Rev. Keith Schrag of Wichita.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Nov 9 p. 11
text of obituary:
Mrs. Marjorie G. Fretz, 61, wife of J. Millard Fretz of Wichita, Kan., died Oct. 4, 1972 after a brief illness.
"Marj" was born March 29, 1911 in LaGrange, Ind. where her father was County Recorder. After graduating from LaGrange High School she worked in the offices and attended Bluffton College where she met "Jake" Fretz. They were married Aug. 24, 1935 in the Bluffton chapel by Rev. A. M. Fretz, the groom's grandfather.
While residing in Ohio, their two children, David and Donna, were born. In the summer of 1949 the family moved to North Newton, Kan. and Marj worked as assistant manager of the Newton Sears Store.
The Fretz family moved to Wichita in 1955 where Marj continued her work with Sears. For the past 15 years she had served as secretary at Gardiner Elementary School.
She was a member of the Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church where she served in various capacities, having special interest in the social ministries of the church. At the time of her death she was a member of the Board of Deacons and one of her last acts was to prepare and serve communion on Oct. 1. Marj was also active in the Wichita and National Associations of Educational Secretaries as well as the Wichita East Lioness Club.
Left to remember her most are members of her family, her husband; son David and wife Jo of Rutland, Vermont; and daughter Donna and husband, Stanley Voth, of Topeka, Kan.
Marj had the ability to form close friendships with diverse types of people. She will be remembered for her quiet tolerance and sense of fairness which she did not hesitate to express as well as for her ability to serve family, friends, and community with love.
A family graveside service was held Saturday afternoon, Oct. 7, 1972. A public memorial service was conducted Sunday afternoon, Oct. 8, at the Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church. Ministers participating were Melvin Schmidt, Keith Schrag, and Herbert Fretz. — The Family.
The Mennonite obituary: 1972 Nov 7 p. 656
