Goertz, Anna Marie (1900-1989))

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 9 Nov 1989 p. 11

Birth date: 1900

text of obituary:

SISTER ANNA MARIE GOERTZ

Sister Anna Marie Goertz died at age 89 on Sept. 27, 1989, at Bethel Home for Aged in Newton, Kan., after a period of failing health. She had been a resident of the home since 1983.

She was born Jan. 25, 1900, near Hillsboro to Peter and Minnie (Nickel) Goertz. She received her elementary education in country schools and in 1920 graduated from Tabor Academy in Hillsboro. She taught school near Inman and Hillsboro for seven years and attended Tabor College for one year.

On June 5, 1917, she was baptized upon confession of faith at Johannestal Mennonite Church near Hillsboro by John Plenert. Later she transferred her membership to First Mennonite Church, Newton, where she remained a member until her death.

While teaching school near Inman 1926-1927, she learned of the deaconess program at Bethel Hospital in Newton. She desired to serve God in a special way, and in June 1927 she entered the deaconess program at Bethel. During her training, she answered affirmatively what she considered a definite call to become a deaconess at the Bethel institutions. After joining the deaconess family in August 1930, she received the probationers garb on Dec. 6 of that year. On June 11, 1933, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Bethel Hospital, she and seven others were consecrated as deaconesses at a service at First Mennonite Church, Newton, with J. E. Entz officiating.

For more than 50 years she served faithfully at the Bethel institutions in nursing, medical records, bookkeeping, supervising housekeeping and laundry, admissions and as hospital receptionist. Twice she served as temporary supervisor of Bethel Home for Aged. She kept the hospital association membership list, school of nursing student records and the alumni list and maintained correspondence with many of the graduates.

She is remembered for her deep sincerity in living out her Christian faith, being not only a conscientious helper but also a devoted, caring friend of many.

Her survivors include the four remaining Bethel deaconesses; a sister, Ruby Goertz of Goessel; two nieces and nephews and a host of friends.