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Willms, Anna Dick (1901-1999)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1999 Jun 17 p. 7
Birth date: 1901 Mar 21
text of obituary:
ANNA WILLMS
Anna Willms was born March 21, 1901, in Landskrone, Molotschna Colony, Ukraine, a daughter of Peter and Anna Dick. At age 13 she was sent to the mennonite girls' school in Gnadenfeld. Gerhard Willms, who later became her husband, attended the nearby Mennonite boys' school.
The Russian Revolution brought hard times and terror. During the famine and drought of 1921-22, homes were invaded and contents confiscated. With encouragement from North American visitors and secret planning, the Dick family and Gerhard Willms hitched a team of horses to a packed wagon and left their village for a new life in North America. Anna's father hid his life savings in the false bottom of a trunk. finding out later that it was dangerous to possess czarist money, it was flushed down the ship's toilet on the high seas.
Anna and Gerhard, who had been planning a North American wedding, had to be married in Constantinople, Turkey, before starting their voyage because her name was not on Gerhard's affidavit. She sold her precious belongings to buy wedding rings.
They traveled by train to Inman, Kan., where relatives met them. A few months later they moved to Newton, Kan., where Gerhard in 1923 got a $9-a-week job at Herald Publishing Co. (now Mennonite Weekly Review Inc.). He advanced in the printing business and in 1946 became the owner of Herald Book and Printing Co.
Anna was baptized at First Mennonite Church of Newton. In their home, Anna and Gerhard welcomed and assisted foreign college and nursing students.
Gerhard died in 1974, and daughter Herta died in 1977. Hard work brought prosperity, and Anna remained frugal and humble as she shared financial gifts to benefit many in the work of God's kingdom. She died June 2, 1999.
She is survived by a sister, Katie of Spokane, Wash.; and a brother Waldo of Grabill, Ind. In addition to her husband and daughter, she was preceded in death by a sister, Maria; and a brother, Abe.
