Sommerfeld, Eva Penner (1893-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Jan 5 p. 6

Birth date: 1893 Dec 20

text of obituary:

— Funeral services were held at the Goessel Mennonite Church Wednesday afternoon for Mrs. Eva Sommerfeld, 62, wife of Ferd Sommerfeld, who was fatally injured in a fall down the basement steps of the Bethesda Hospital. Mrs. Sommerfeld, who had been employed at the hospital for about a month, was carrying soiled linens to the basement Friday noon when she somehow lost her balance and fell. Nurses came to her aid immediately and summoned Dr. Roland Krause of the hospital staff. It was found that she had suffered fractures of both wrists and a severe head injury which affected her breathing. Doctors Krause and Ratzlaff made every effort to save her life, giving artificial respiration throughout the night Saturday and until 4:00 p.m. Sunday, when she passed away without regaining consciousness. The Sommerfelds had moved to Goesssel from the Canton community within the past year. Surviving are the husband and one daughter, Phyllis, of Newton.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Jan 19 p. 8

text of obituary:

EVA PENNER SOMMERFELD

Eva Penner Sommerfeld, wife of Ferd Sommerfeld, was born to Heinrich H. and Katharina Janzen Penner on Dec. 20, 1893, in Marion County, Kansas, and departed this life on Jan. 1, 1956, at 4 p.m. at the Bethseda [sic Bethesda] Hospital Goessel, Kan.

Her death was due to a serious fall on Dec. 30 at 12:20 p.m. from which she did not regain consciousness in spite of the best care given by doctors and nurses. She reached the age of 62 years and 12 days.

She attended the Schlehuber District school and also the Hillsboro Preparatory school at Hillsboro, Kan.

Trusting in the Lord as her Saviour, she was baptized on the confession of her faith on July 10, 1910, by Elder H. D. Penner and became a member of the First Mennonite Church of Hillsboro. She transferred her membership to the Goessel Mennonite church in 1948, where she was a faithful member at the time of her death.

She was married to Ferd Sommerfeld on Nov. 11, 1934 with whom she shared 21 years of happy married life. In 1944 Phyllis came to cheer their home. She was intimately attached to Phyllis and was greatly interested in her welfare.

She had a friendly and kindly disposition which won her many friends. She was a willing worker both in the church and in the home. Her active participation in the Mission Friends Sewing Circle relief committee and other church activities and hospital work will be greatly missed.

She and her family resided on a farm until last July when they moved to Goessel. She was much concerned with making a comfortable home for her family.

She leaves to mourn her sudden departure her beloved husband and daughter Phyllis; five sisters, Susie, Mrs. A. D. Friesen, Louise, Mrs. Wm. Knak [sic Knaak], Mrs. Tin [sic Tena] Schroeder, Marie, Mrs. Johann Ewert, Selma, Mrs. Arnold Penner, two brothers, P. H. Penner and Alvin Penner; 10 sisters-in-law and five brothers-in-law, many nieces and nephews and a host of relatives and friends.

"We mourn, but not as those who have no hope." — Ferd Sommerfeld and Phyllis.