Holdeman, Elizabeth Ritter (1834-1932)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1932 Apr 20 p. 4

Birth date: 1834 Mar 9

text of obituary:

LOCAL

. . .

— Funeral services for Elizabeth Ritter Holdeman were held at the Lonetree church at Moundridge Monday afternoon, April 11. The deceased reached the advanced age of 98 years.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1932 May 4 p. 3

Elizabeth Holdeman.

Elizabeth (Ritter) Holdeman, wife of the late Bishop John Holdeman, was born in Lancaster county, Penn., March 9, 1934.

She passed away at the home of her son, A. R. Holdeman at Hutchinson, Kansas, April 9, 1932, at the ripe old age of 98 years and one month. At the age of 11 years she with her parents moved to Ohio, where she grew to womanhood. Here she united in marriage with John Holdeman of Wooster, Ohio, on November 18, 1852. This union was blessed with six children, three having passed away in their infancy. One daughter, Mrs. Cornelius Gnagy, with whom she lived after the death of her husband, passed away about five years ago. her husband became a preacher and also a bisop in the Church of God in Christ Mennonite and this called for a removal to Jasper county, Mo., where he established a church. later he lived near Moundridge, Kansas, where he passed away march 10, 1900. She resided with her children in Reno county, Kansas, the rest of her life.

Sister Holdeman was converted in her youth and united with the church in which her husband was minister, giving her occasion to learn the real meaning of self-denial. She was often left alone to care for the household, while her husband was away preaching the gospel. But her heart was with him in the service for the Master, working in her calling faithfully as the door opened and gladly suffering the privations connected with such work. But the Lord upheld her, and the Master's promise of "One Hundred-Fold" was not forgotten, nor the great reward to those who endure to the end.

As a wife, and mother and Christian worker she leaves us a most worthy example for which the Heavenly Father has promised great reward. Mother Holdeman was of a kind, quiet and loving disposition, which won for her a host of friends wherever she went or lived. One could always feel the fervent love for the Master in her words and deeds, lifting Him up to all in sincere obedience to His will. When the Lord comes to claim His own, we hope to see her with the blood-washed throng.

She leaves to mourn their loss, 2 sons, A. R. Holdeman of Hutchinson, and Samuel of Glendale, Ariz.: one son-in-law C. Gnagy, also of Hutchinson, 13 grandchildren, 27great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren, with a host of other relatives and friends. The immediate cause of her death was paralysis.

Funeral services were held on Monday, April 11, 1932, at one o'clock at the home and at the Lonetree church north of Moundridge at 3 o'cloke. A large audience had gathered to pay a last respect to the deceased. Services were in charge of the Rev. A. G. Ensz of Inman and Rev. F. H. Wenger of Hesston. She was laid to rest by the side of her hudband in the Lonetree cemetery.

Pall bearers were grandsons of the deceased, Al Holdeman of southeast Kansas, Charles and Harvey Holdeman of Hutchinson, Frank Gnagy of Shawnee, Oklahoma, Ervin Gnagy o Hutchinson and one great-grandson also of Hutchinson, whose name was not learned.

Beautiful rest for the weary
Well-deserved rest for the true.
When our life's journey is ended
We shall again be with you.