Regier, Maria Janzen (1887-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Dec 30 p. 11

Birth date: 1887 Sep 27

text of obituary:

Wife of Long-Time Minister Dies

Inola, Okla. — Mrs. Maria Janzen Regier, 84, wife of Rev. G. B. Regier of rural Inola, died Dec. 19 at the Community Hospital at Wagoner after having suffered several strokes the day before.

A native of Inman, Kan., Mrs. Regier married George B. Regier in 1908 in Hamilton County, Kansas. They came to this community in 1913 and Rev. Regier entered a dual ministry of farming and serving as pastor of the Eden Mennonite Church. He continued in the pastorate for many years.

Mrs. Regier leaves her husband of the home; one daughter, Mrs. Art Unrau of Inola; three sons, Henry of Enid, Rev. Daniel Regier of Clinton, and William, a missionary to Brazil; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Henry Janzen of Buhler, Kan. and Abe Janzen of Enid. Her son William and family arrived in the homeland for furlough only four hours after her death.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Jan 13 p. 11

text of obituary:

MARIE JANZEN REGIER

Marie Janzen Regier, daughter of Heinrich and Katharina Janzen, was born on Sept. 27, 1887, at Inman, Kan., and passed away on Dec. 19, 1971, at the Community Hospital, Wagoner, Okla., having attained the age of 84 years, two months, and 22 days.

Upon her profession of faith in Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, she was baptized and became a member of the Mennonite Church at Medford, Okla. She later transferred her membership to the Eden Mennonite Church, Inola, Okla., where she remained a faithful member until death.

She was married to George B. Regier on Nov. 29, 1908, at the home of her parents in Hamilton County, Kansas, with Rev. Peter Heidebrecht in charge of the ceremony.

They were engaged in farming in that area until Aug. 3, 1913, when they came to Inola, Okla. to enter a dual ministry of farming and serving in the pastorate of the Eden Mennonite Church. Mother always had a vital interest in the effective spiritual ministry of this church.

The 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries of our parents were both celebrated at the Eden Church.

Mother had been handicapped the last 30 years with a crippling arthritic condition. Her final illness started with a light stroke on Dec. 18 at 12:30 p.m. During the afternoon and evening of that day she rallied from the light stroke in a remarkable way. Then at 9 p.m. that day she suffered a massive stroke which caused her death the following day at 5:40 p.m.

Our parents had been eagerly anticipating for many months the arrival of the 1971 Christmas holidays, for this would be the time when the missionary son, William, and his family would be coming to the United States for their furlough. It would be the first time in four years that the entire family would be together. But that fond dream was never realized. William Regiers arrived at the Tulsa airport only four hours after mother had passed away.

Our disappointments are often God's appointments. It is true that there are times when we weep when we remember that the wheel chair in which mother sat at the east end of the table is now empty. But then we remember that now in Heaven she has received glorified feet and hands in the place of the crippled ones. We remember that her nights of piercing pain have been replaced by the joys of endless day. We remember that now she can fill her place in the throng that sings praises to the Savior instead of sitting home alone while others had the privilege of going to church services.

Our loss is small in comparison to her gain. And as we make the comparison, we are obliged to reaffirm that God's ways are better than our ways.

She leaves to mourn her sudden passing, her husband, George B. Regier; one daughter, Frieda and husband Art Unrau of Inola; three sons, Henry and wife Verna of Enid, Okla., Daniel and wife Goldie of Clinton, Okla., William and wife Dahna, missionaries in Brazil, now on furlough at Newton, Kan.; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two brothers, Henry Janzen of Buhler, Kan. and Abe Janzen of Enid, Okla.; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Those preceding her in death included a daughter, Katharina; a son, Jacob; six sisters and three brothers.

We praise the Lord for the memory of our mother. — The Children.

The Mennonite obituary: 1972 Feb 8 p. 96