Pankratz, Sarah Schmidt (1875-1949)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 17 Nov 1949 p. 1

Birth date: 1875 Dec 13

text of obituary:

MRS. SARAH PANKRATZ

Sarah Pankratz, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hogge) Schmidt was born on Dec. 13, 1875, in the village of Alexanderkron, Russia.

She came to America with her parents in 1878, settling in Kansas, east of Newton near the Gnadenberg Mennonite church. Here she spent her early childhood. Later, in 1812, she moved with her parents to Oklahoma, settling on a farm near Bessie.

At the age of 19 she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and soon was baptized upon the confession of her faith.

On Jan. 1, 1895, she was married to P. M. Pankratz with whom she shared life's pleasures and hardships for 45 years and 12 days. He preceded her in death in 1940.

This union was blessed with two children, one son Otto and a daughter, Bertha, Mrs. Walter H. Schmidt, who preceded her in death by about three months.

In 1911 father and mother joined the Herold church, whose faithful member she remained until the Lord called her.

She had been ill for quite some years, but medical aid seemed to help her. The sudden death of her daughter Bertha gave her such a shock that she steadily grew worse. The last week she lost ground rapidly till the Lord found it best to take her home at 12:25 Friday morning, Sept. 30, to be at rest with Him where there is no more suffering or sorrow. She reached the age of 73 years, nine months and 17 days.

She leaves to mourn her departure her son Otto and wife Bertha of Cordell. Okla.; Walter H. Schmidt, her son-in-law of Gotebo, Okla.: one sister, Mrs. Peter Flaming of Clinton, Okla.; two brothers, Henry Schmidt of Clinton and John Schmidt of Oklahoma City; one brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law; a close friend, Fred. G. Schmidt of Cordell, who stayed with the family for many years; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; many other relatives and a host of friends.

We mourn her death but not as those who have no hope.

Funeral services were held in the Herold church near Bessie on Monday, Oct. 3, Rev. Paul Dahlenberg officiated. Pallbearers were Otto Nickel, Henry Jantzen, Menno Schmidt, Leonard Harms, August Dalke and Alfred Schmidt. She was laid to rest in the Herold cemetery.