Franz, Eva Frey (1879-1950)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Oct 26 p. 4

Birth date: 1879 Jul 21

text of obituary:

. . .

— Funeral services were held at the First Mennonite church Wednesday afternoon for Mrs. Eva Franz, 71, wife of Jacob J. Franz of West 23rd street, Newton. She passed away Sunday evening at the Bethel Deaconess hospital after an illness of some months. Rev. D. J. Unruh conducted the services. Besides Mr. Franz, she leaves one daughter, Mrs. Lydia Busch of Denver, Colo.; four sons, Marvin, Adolph, and Walter, all of Newton, and Rudolph J. of Route 2, Whitewater; one sister. Mrs. George Pankratz of Wichita; and a number of grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Nov 16 p. 6

text of obituary:

MRS. EVA FRANZ

Eva Frey Franz, daughter of Jacob and Eva Wedel Frey, was born in the little village of Gruenfeldt, Kansas, July 21, 1879. She died in Newton, Kansas, October 22, 1950, aged 71 years, three months and one day.

She grew up in a Christian home where discipline and love embraced each other. She learned to know and love her Saviour from early youth. On May 29, 1898, she was baptized on confession of her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour from sin by Elder Peter Balzer and became a member of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite church where she remained a member until shortly before her death. Only recently she and her husband become members of the First Mennonite church, Newton, when their four sons are members.

On April 18, 1902, she was married to Jacob J. Franz of Goessel, Kansas. Five children were born to this union, one daughter and four sons. Early in life she directed them to the Lord and if these teachings will go with them, they will not be missing among the Lord’s own. It was the repeated hope and prayer of mother Franz that none of her own should be missing over there. In her own words she wrote “I want that over there I may clasp my arms about them, my husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, not to forget the brothers and sisters. [sic end quote lacking in original]

She was a lover of music and often sang Gospel songs and the hymns of the church. But ever more important to her than her songs were the prayers that ascended for all her loved ones to the throne of grace.

Early this past summer her health began to fail and she was admitted to the Bethel Deaconess hospital where she received loving care and treatment. On July 5 she submitted to surgery and though she recovered sufficiently to return to her home, she never fully regained her health again. During this time of sickness she received much love and care from her family, her sister Anna, Mrs. G. G. Pankratz, and sister-in-law Mrs. Herman Frey, and other relatives. She gradually became weaker until a few days before her death, she returned once more to the hospital where she peacefully went to be with her Lord Sunday, October 22.

She leaves to mourn her departure her husband Jacob Franz with whom she shared joys and sorrows of life for almost fifty years: one daughter Lydia, Mrs. Andrew Busch and her husband Denver, Colo.: and four sons, Marvin and Adolph, of Newton, Rudolph, of Whitewater, Walter of Newton, and their wives: fourteen grandchildren, three great grandchildren, one sister and three sisters-in-law, many relatives and friends.