Reimer, Elizabeth Pankratz (1896-1995)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 21 Sep 1995 p. 11

Birth date: 1896

text of obituary:

ELIZABETH P. REIMER

Elizabeth Pankratz Reimer, daughter of Peter G. and Maria Loewens Pankratz, was born Dec. 14, 1896, on a farm near Lehigh, Kan. Her mother died when she was eight days old. An aunt, Susana Richert, lovingly cared for her until she was 2.

After her father married Sarah Loewens, Elizabeth was taken home again, where she grew to womanhood under the kind and loving influence of her father, mother, and sister. When she was 9 the family left the farm and moved to Lehigh.

In her youth she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized June 23, 1914, by Peter Krause and became a member of Lehigh Mennonite Church.

She married John S. Reimer on Aug. 19, 1922. They had two daughters, Lenora Mae and Mary Jane. They lived on a farm in the Lehigh area and later in the Goessel area until moving to McPherson in 1952.

Upon her marriage she transferred her church membership to the Goessel Mennonite Church. Later she transferred her membership to First Mennonite Church of McPherson. In 1955 they moved to California, living in Upland and later in La Mirada. Moving to Southern California, she transferred her membership to Bethel Community Church of Santa Fe Springs.

After her husband’s death on June 8, 1981, she continued to live with her daughter Lenora in La Mirada. In 1988 Elizabeth and Lenora moved to Phoenix, Ariz., to live at Grencroft-North Retirement Center. Elizabeth died at the home in Phoenix on Aug. 3, 1995.

Surviving are two daughters, Lenora, and Mary Jane Swartzendruber and husband Paul, all of Phoenix; and two grandchildren.

Services were held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Cypress, Calif.