Sperling, Mary (1882-1946)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1946 Apr 23 p. 13

Birth date: 1882 Jan 20

text of obituary:

Maria Sperling, Tochter von Peter und Anna Heidebrecht Sperling, wurde am 20. Jan. 1882 in McPherson Co., Kansas geboren und besuchte die Volksschule nahe der Eltern Heim. Sie hat viele Bücher durchgelesen und liebte auch den Gesang und es war ihr angenehm wenn Vertwandte für sie und mit ihr sangen. (Hier ein Wink für junge Leute, daß dies öfter getan werde. Es trägt Früchte ein.) Am 20. Mai 1902 ward sie von Aelt. Peter Balzer getauft und Glied der Hoffnungsau Gemeinde, wo sie Glied blieb, außer 11 Jahre da sie mit ihren Eltern in Gössel war oder im Altenheim wohnte und Glied der Gössel Gemeinde war. Sie liebte Aelt. P. P. Buller der auch so freundlich war und bei dem Begräbnis diente. In spätern Jahren hatte sie ihr Heim bei ihren Geschwistern, und in den letzten 5 Jahren bei den Geschw. Heinrich R. Epp nahe Buhler und sie schätzte und liebte das Heim. Vor 2 Jahren wurde sie leidend und unterzog sich im Halstead Hospital einer Operation. Später stellte sich ein Krebsleiden ein in ihren Lungen und am 25. Jan. 1946 ward sie nach dem Bethel Hospital gebracht wo sie auch gut gepflegt ward. Die Kräfte nahmen ab, aber im Glauben blieb sie fest. Am 25. März entschlief sie. Welch ein freudiges Erwachen wird das sein bei ihrem Heiland. Wir gönnen ihr die Ruhe. Sie wurde 64 J. 2 M. und 6 Tage alt, und hinterläßt 4 Brüder und Familien: Heinrich, Dinuba, Calif.; Peter, Moundridge, Kan.; Johann C. O., Newton; und Corn. C., Inman, Kansas; dazu die Schwestern Katie, Frau John J. Schmidt, Buhler, und Elizabeth, Frau Pred. C. H. Voth, Inman, Kansas. Drei Schwestern und 1 Bruder sind verstorben.

“Selig in Jesu Armen.
Selig an seiner Brust:
Ruh’n in der Liebe Schatten —
Seele welch’ heilige Lust.”

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1946 Apr 4 p. 5

text of obituary:

Newton And Vicinity

. . .

— Funeral services for Miss Mary Sperling, 64, who passed away at the Bethel hospital on Tuesday morning, March 26, were held at the Hoffnungsau church on Friday afternoon, March 29. She had been sick for about a year. She leaves to mourn her passing the following sisters, Mrs. Lena Hamm of Inman, Mrs. J. J.Schmidt, Buhler, Mrs. C. H. Voth, Inman; four brothers, Henry Sperling, Dinuba, Calif.; P. A. Sperling, Moundridge, C. C. Sperling, Inman, and J. C. O. Sperling of Newton.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1946 Apr 11 p. 3

text of obituary:

MARY SPERLING

Mary Sperling, daughter of Peter and Anna (Heidebrecht) Sperling, was born in McPherson county, Kansas, on January 20, 1882. She received her education in the public schools of the community. Although her schooling was but elementary, she very much enjoyed reading and has read many a book in her life. She was also very fond of singing and music and enjoyed it greatly when friends and relatives came to sing for her and also with her. This should at different occasions be done in other cases also. It would be fruitful.

When she was 20 years of age, she accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized upon the confession of her faith by Rev. Peter Balzer on May 20, 1902, and became a member of the Hoffnungsau Mennonite church. She was a member of this church continuously, except for 11 years when she stayed with her parents or was in the Bethesda Home and Hospital. In Goessel she was a member of the Goessel Mennonite church, the pastor being Rev. P. P. Buller, who has so kindly served at her funeral.

For a number of years she lived in the Bethesda Home for Aged. Later, however, she made her home with brothers and sisters and for more than five years with her niece and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Epp near Buhler. She loved them and appreciated their caring for her.

She became sickly about two years ago and had to undergo an operation for cancer in the Halstead hospital. It was seemingly successful, but later the same disease developed in her lungs and on January 25 of this year she was taken to the Bethel Hospital at Newton, where doctors and nurses did what they could. But she grew steadily weaker, till for the last few weeks even her voice became affected and she could speak only in a whisper.

She trusted in Christ as her Savior fully and steadfastly without wavering until the end. She went to sleep quietly on the evening of March 25, and also slept soundly when 10 minutes before her departure the nurse was in her room. When the nurse entered again 10 minutes later, she had quietly slumbered away into the Great Beyond, where her awaking will be pleasant in the presence of Christ, her Savior.

Her family and relatives mourn, yet grant her the rest with the ransomed of God in glory after a rather troubled and lonesome life. We shall meet again when our journey is ended. She reached the age of 64 years, 2 months and 6 days.

She leaver [sic] to mourn her departure: Four brothers and four sisters-in-law: Henry Sperling and wife, Dinuba, Calif., Peter A. Sperling and wife, Moundridge, John C. O. Sperling and wife, Newton, and Cor. C. Sperling and wife, Inman; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Lena, Mrs. Peter Hamnm, Inman; Katie and husband, J. J. Schmidt, Buhler, Elizabeth and husband, Rev. C. H. Voth, Inman, and a large number of relatives and friends. Three sisters, Mrs. Jacob B. Janzen, Waldheim, Saskatchewan, Canada, and Mrs. Jacob Buller, Buhler. Minnie and Peter preceded her in death.

— The bereaved Brothers and Sisters