Pankratz, Anna Frey (1881-1961)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Nov 2 p. 6

Birth date: 1881 Jun 19

text of obituary:

. . .

— Mrs. Anna Pankratz, 80, wife of Gerhard G. Pankratz, died Tuesday night at Bethel Hospital where she had been admitted Oct. 9 after suffering a stroke. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the First Mennonite Church, with Rev. Arnold Epp and Rev. J. E. Entz in charge. A native of the Greenfield community north of Newton. Mrs. Pankratz was the last surviving member of the Jacob Frey family. The family home has been in Newton since 1938. Surviving in addition to her husband are four daughters, three sons and 21 grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Nov 23 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. ANNA (FREY) PANKRATZ

Anna Frey Pankratz daughter of Jacob and Eva (Wedel) Frey, was born on June 19, 1881, in the Greenfield community near Goessel, Kansas, and died Oct. 31, 1961 at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital, Newton.

She received her education in the rural school in the Greenfield community. Upon her confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, she was baptized on May 29, 1898 by Elder Peter Balzer and received as member of the Alexanderwohl Church.

On Nov. 11, 1904 she was united in holy matrimony to Gerhard G. Pankratz. To this marriage, of almost 57 years, were born seven children: Mrs. Sam Schrag (Amanda) of Cheney, Linda of Newton, Mrs. C. F. Epp (Eva) of Hutchinson, Mrs. Richard Blosser (Mary Ann) of North Newton, Gustav of Augusta, Theodore of Cassoday, and Peter of Wichita.

Other survivors besides her husband and children are three sons-in-law and three daughters-in-law, 25 grandchildren, four sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law. Her parents, three sisters, eight brothers and one granddaughter preceded her in death.

The family resided at the farm home in Marion County until 1920, when they moved to Thomas County, Kansas. Here, with three other families from the Alexanderwohl community, they helped organize the first Mennonite Sunday school in Thomas County. After six pioneering years they moved to Burrton, Kansas where they united with the Burrton Mennonite Church. Since 1938 they have made their home in Newton, uniting with the First Mennonite Church here.

Mother's life was a life of service to her family and others, thus expressing her love for her Lord and Saviour. She delighted in quoting Scriptures and songs she had learned in early youth, and her children will remember her singing hymns as she worked.

After some time of failing health, she became seriously ill as a result of cerebral thrombosis on Oct. 6, and on Oct. 9 was admitted to Bethel Deaconess Hospital where, after several weeks of illness, she went to be with her Lord on Tuesday evening, Oct. 31.