Wiebe, Katharina Graevs (1859-1949)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Dec 29 p. 3

Birth date: 1859 Mar 25

text of obituary:

KATHARINA GRAEVS WIEBE

Katharina Graevs Wiebe was born as the oldest daughter of Heinrich and Katharina Giesbrecht Graevs on March 25, 1859, in Kleefeld, South Russia. It was here that she spent her childhood days, attended school, and helped with the work in field and home.

She was baptized on a Pentecost day by Rev. Peter Goertz in the Orlaff Mennonite church.

In 1874 military training became compulsory in Russia. Grandfather, thinking of his four young sons, decided to join a group of Mennonites from other villages who were moving to the province of Turkestan in central Asia. At that time this province was not a part of Russia and there they were promised religious freedom.

They sold their homestead in 1880, loaded necessary belongings into a wagon, and joined this group. They traveled by horse and wagon many days and when at last they came to Turkestan, the governor who had invited them to settle there had died. The new governor was not in favor of the Mennonites and would not permit them to stay. This was the reason for four years of wandering in search of a country where they would have religious freedom.

It was during this journey that she was united in marriage with Bernhard Wiebe, on February 20, 1882, in a Mohammedan Mosque. This mosque was not used by the Moslems at that time, and it served the group as a house of worship during their stay in that village. It was a double wedding-ceremony. The other couple was a sister of father, Aunt Anna Toevs and her husband Uncle Henry Toevs.

After moving about from place to place, often being molested by the inhabitants of that country, they decided to come to America, arriving in Newton, Kansas in September 1884. They settled near Whitewater, Kansas and joined the Emmaus Mennonite church.

In 1902 the family moved to Hinton, Oklahoma. It was here that her husgband [sic] was ordained as a minister of the Gospel in 1905. Here they also celebrated their silver wedding anniversary in 1907. For 18 years she faithfully performed the various duties of a minister's wife.

In 1909 the family moved back to Whitewater, Kansas and again joined the Emmaus church where she remained as a member.

She was always willing to help wherever help was needed. At two different times she took in nieces and a nephew who were left motherless and cared for them for some time.

Father preceded her in death on July 22, 1921. In 1941 she came to Aberdeen, Idaho to make her home with her son Bernhard and family.

She loved the song “The Great Physician Now is Near” and we often sang it for her. She had been bed-fast the last five years and had to receive constant care. She slowly weakened and on Monday morning, Dec. 5, 1949, at 11 o'clock The Great Physician came and gently released her from this world of suffering. She reached the age of 90 years, eight months, and 10 days.

She is survived by two sons, H. B. Wiebe and B. B. Wiebe of Aberdeen, Idaho; one daughter, Mrs. Willie Harder, of Sterling Idaho; two daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, 18 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and two brothers, Peter Graevs of Goessel, Kansas and Isaac Graevs of Hillsboro, Kansas. One son died in infancy and one daughter, Marie, Mrs. P. F. Funk died in 1933.

Funeral services for Mother Wiebe were conducted Dec. 9 by Pastor H. N. Harder, at the home of her oldest son, B. H. Wiebe, at 1:45 p. m. and at the church at 2 p. m. Burial was made at the Homestead cemetery west of Aberdeen, Ida.

Rev. Harder used for his text Psalm 23, a favorite Psalm of the departed. A quartet composed of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Voth, Orlando Warkentin and Mrs. W. P. Dirks sang favorite songs at the house, the church, and the cemetery. Six grandsons of Mrs. Wiebe were pall-bearers: Eldon B. Harder, Carl, Walter, and Henry Wiebe, Alvin and Ronald Funk, all of Aberdeen.

The Mennonite obituary: 1950 Jan 3 p. 11