Heinrichs, Sarah Grunau Kroeker (1886-1966)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1966 Apr 21 p. 8

Birth date: 1886 Aug 14

text of obituary:

SARAH KROEKER HEINRICHS

Sarah Kroeker Heinrichs, daughter of Rev. Cornelius and Katharina Grunau, was born Aug. 14, 1886, at Rostenthal [sic Rosenthal], South Russia. She reached the are of 79 years, six months and 22 days when she peacefully went to be with the Lord on Mar. 6, 1966.

Mother came to America with her parents in 1892. The family settled on a homestead in what is now Blaine County, Okla.

Having had the privilege of Christian training, she accepted Christ as her personal Saviour in her youth. She was baptized by Rev. Fred Just in 1903 and joined the Mennonite Brethren Church of which she remained a faithful member until her death.

On April 9, 1908 she was joined in holy matrimony with Bernhard Kroeker. The Lord blessed this union with six children, of whom one daughter preceded her in death. After their marriage they established their home on a farm near Enid. In 1929 they moved to Coldwater, Tex. The move brought financial difficulties caused by repeated crop failures. There the Lord called her husband home to glory in 1934, and after which the family moved back to Enid, Okla.

On Nov. 19, 1942 mother entered into holy matrimony with John J. Heinrichs of Collinsville, Okla. and they established a home on a farm near that place. The Lord gave them ten happy years together after which the latter passed from this life on June 14, 1953. Mother again returned to Enid where she resided the remaining years of her life.

Mother took an active interest in the sewing circle, and even after she found it hard to attend the meetings, she would ask for things to work on at home. When it became evident that she could not remain at home alone anymore, she consent to move into the Pekrul Manor where she continued to make friends and where she received tender care.

She leaves to mourn: Three daughters, Mrs. Cornelius (Tena) Ediger of Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico, Anna Kroeker of Enid, and Mrs. Raymond (Tillie) Reimer, Kingsburg, Calif.; two sons, Henry B. Kroeker, Campbell, Calif. and David G. Kroeker, San Jose, Calif.; two daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; two step-sons, Dan and Harry Heinrichs of Collinsville, Okla.; two step-daughter, Mrs. Arthur (Edna) Gossen, Collinsville, Okla. and Mrs. Eldon (Amy) Ollenburger, San Jose, Calif. and their respective families; three sisters, Mrs. John Berg and Mrs. J. J. Koop, Enid, Okla.; two brothers, Rev. P. C. Grunau, Enid, and Rev. J. C. Grunau, Hillsboro, Kan.

All children of the deceased were present at the funeral services which were held at 2:00 p.m. on March 10 in the Mennonite Brethren Church, with Rev. Waldo Wiebe officiating. Rev. Wiebe used Psalm 23 for the text of his sermon of consolation. Songs were rendered by the Sunshine Missionary Circle of which the deceased had been a member.

Interment followed in the Enid M. B. Church cemetery north of Enid. — The Family by J. A. V.