Warkentin, Maria Regehr (1862-1952)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1952 Feb 28 p. 10

Birth date: 1862 Mar 24

text of obituary:

MRS. MARIA WARKENTIN

Our dear mother, Mrs. Maria Warkentin, daughter of Aron and Maria Regehr, was born March 24, 1862, in South Russia in the village of Sparrau. She went home to be with the Lord on Jan. 27, 1952, at 6 p.m. in the Bethel home in Montezuma, Kans. She reached the age of 89 years, 10 months and three days.

In her infancy she lost her mother. She with her father and brother Aron survived. In 1861 her father was united in marriage to his second wife, Katherina Thiessen in whom she found a loving stepmother. To this union seven children were born of whom four are still living. She came to America in 1876 with her parents and settled near Inman, McPherson county, Kans.

She was converted in 1881 and on confession of her faith she was baptized by Elder Heinrich Toews and was received as a member into the Bethel church, Inman Kans. She was united in marriage on Feb. 14, 1882 to our father Jacob Warkentin, who preceded her in death on March 5, 1935 They were privileged to live together 53 years. To this union 14 children were born of whom six preceded her in death.

In 1909 they moved to Meade Kans., where she with her husband joined the E.M.B. church which then was under the name Bruderthal church. There they helped to build the Kingdom of God as best as they knew how. She always had a longing to go to the house of the Lord even during her old age. We truly can say of her old age:

Wenn auch de Lippen schweigen
So betet doch das Herz,
Und de Gedanken steigen
Bestaending himmelwaerts.

We are thankful to the Lord that He spared her from long suffering. Her most intense suffering was during the last three days, when she was entirely helpless. Everything possible was done by the doctor and nurses to relieve her pains but she patiently bore them until the end.

She leaves to mourn her departure eight children: A. J. Warkentin, Topeka, Kans.; Katie, Mrs. J. A. Peters, Inman, Kans.; Elizabeth, Mrs. K. C. Warkentin, Reedley, Calif.; J. J. Warkentin, Montezuma, Kans.; Helen, Mrs. A. A. Zielke, Henry J. Warkentin, Susie, Mrs. A. J. Enns, all of Meade; Maria, Mrs. George Zielke, Fowler, Kans. Also surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Dave Boese, Shaffer, Calif., and Mrs. Peter Doerksen; two brothers, A. A. Regehr and G. A. Regehr, of Inman, Kans.; 31 grandchildren and 42 great grandchildren. Four grandchildren and one great grandchild preceded her in death.

Funeral services were held at the E.M.B. church near Meade on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 30, 1952. — The Warkentin Family.