Harder, Anna Wiebe (1886-1974)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Jul 11 p. 8

Birth date: 1886 Mar 6

text of obituary:

Newton and Vicinity

. . .

• Funeral services for Mrs. Anna Harder, 88, were held Tuesday forenon [sic] at the Emmaus Mennonite Church near Whitewater, with Rev. L. A. Amstutz in charge. She died Saturday at the Bethel Home for Aged, Newton, where she had received care for some time. Her husband, G. A. Harder, died in 1973. Mrs. Harder, the former Anna Wiebe, was born in Russia in 1886 and came to the Whitewater community at the age of six. She resided there until entering the Bethel Home. Surviving are six daughters, Mrs. Walter Dyck of Danvers, Ill., Mrs. Arthur Claassen of Potwin, Mrs. Agnes Wuthrich of Carrie, Ky., Mrs. W. F. Wiebe of Whitewater, Mrs. Herman Regier of rural Newton, and Mrs. Ray Harnly of Manheim, Pa.; six sons, Gus W. and Herbert, both of Benton, Walter of Peabody, Gerhard of Whitewater, Arthur of Olathe, and Harold of El Dorado; two sisters, Mrs. Gilbert Suter of Pandora, O. and Mrs. Bernhard Entz of Whitewater; and one brother, Herman Wiebe of Whitewater.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Sep 5 p. 11

text of obituary:

MRS. ANNA HARDER

The following was written by Mrs. Anna Harder several years ago while a resident at the Bethel Home, Newton.

"Anna Wiebe Harder was born on March 6, 1886, in Hohendorf, Russia, the fifth of nine children of John and Justina Epp Wiebe. When I was seven years of age, in 1893, our family left Russia and settled on a farm south of Brainerd (Kan.) where I, with my three brothers and five sisters, enjoyed a happy childhood. I attended the elementary grade school, also some years of German school.

"In 1903 our Elder Gustav Harder taught a catechism class of 12. the blessings of these instructions have gone with father and me through life. We remained faithful members of the Emmaus Mennonite Church.

"On Jan. 31, 1907, I was married to Gustav A. Harder, a union which lasted over 66 years. Our 12 children were our joy and concern. It was also our joy to be present at each of their wedding ceremonies. In 1932 we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, in 1957 our 50th, and in 1967 our 60th. After leaving the farm in 1950 we moved to Brainerd where we spent over 15 happy retirement years. On account of illness we left our home to exchange it for the Bethel Home in Newton.

"Our 12 children and their families, including 38 living grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, are still our joy and concern. We are grateful for the Lord's leading."

After our father passed away in March of 1973, mother's physical strength began to wane. Anxious to be released from these bodily limitations and to enter the joy of her Lord, she answered His call Saturday evening, July 6.

Today her children rise to call her blessed. They will remember her for her broad interests, her patience, courage, and quiet dignity. She loved her Lord, her Bible, hymns and poetry — a knowledge which she shared devotedly with those about her.

After a Monday evening "visitation" of sharing by family members at the funeral home in Whitewater, the funeral services were held on Tuesday morning, July 9, at the Emmaus Mennonite Church with L. R. Amstutz, the pastor, presiding. Brief messages based on mother's baptism text and the parents' wedding test (Isaiah 43:1 and Psalm 32:8) were given by Walter Dyck and Arthur Harder.

Surviving are all of her 12 children: Gus W., Benton; Martha, Mrs. Walter Dyck, Danvers, Ill.; Herbert, Benton; Walter, Peabody; Ann; Mrs. Arthur Claassen, Potwin; Mrs. Agnes Wuthrich, Carrie, Ky.; Esther, Mrs. W. F. Wiebe, Whitewater; Elsie, Mrs. Herman Regier, Newton; Gerhard, Whitewater; Arthur, Olathe; Ella, Mrs. Ray Harnly, Manheim, Pa.; and Harold, El Dorado. Also surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Ella Suter of Pandora, Ohio and Mrs. Frieda Entz of Whitewater, and one brother, Herman Wiebe of Whitewater.