Knak, Maria Nickel (1871-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Jan 7 p, 6

Birth date: 1871 Mar 23

text of obituary:

. . .

— Funeral services for Mrs. Anton Knak, 82, pioneer settler at Hillsboro, were held at the First Mennonite church there Saturday afternoon. She died Wednesday Dec. 30, at the Salem hospital in Hillsboro. Survivors include her aged husband, six daughters and four sons, and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Three of the daughters, Mrs. Henry W. Epp, Mrs. S. Ralph Oliver and Frieda Knak, reside in Newton.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Jan 14 p. 9

text of obituary:

MRS. MARIA (NICKEL) KNAK

Mrs. Maria Nickel Knak was born in the village Gnadental, South Russia, March 23, 1871.

With her parents, Wilhelm and Maria Wiens Nickel, she came to Kansas in 1874, settling in Marion county, where she lived the rest of her life. She attended school at Brudertal under the teacher and elder, Wm. Ewert, and later at the age of 18 was baptized there upon the confession of her faith by the elder Benj. Unruh, June 6, 1889. In 1917 she and her husband joined the First Mennonite church, Hillsboro, of which she remained a faithful member until her passing.

On Oct. 7, 1890, she was united in marriage to Anton Knak. This union was blessed with four sons and six daughters, all of whom are still living: Marie (Mrs. Henry Epp), Newton; Wilhelm, Hillsboro; Martha (Mrs. Peter Schroeder), Hillsboro; Elizabeth, (Mrs. S. Ralph Oliver), Newton; Gerhard, Hillsboro; Frieda, Newton: Anton, Esther, (Mrs. Arthur Penner), Mildred, (Mrs. Joe Jantz), and Peter, all of Hillsboro.

There are also 34 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren of whom three grandchildren and one great-grandchild have preceded her into the beyond. Also gone before is one son-in-law, Henry Epp.

Father and Mother Knak made their home a short distance northeast of Hillsboro where they farmed until their retirement. For a few years they lived in the town of Hillsboro, but failing health later caused them to make their home with their children.

Throughout mother's long life she was appreciated for her never failing diligence and industry. Her hands were never idle. The volumes of clippings and newspaper articles she carefully preserved show what a lively interest she always had in her neighbors and the fellow citizens of her community.

In 1915, 1940, and 1950 the parents were privileged to celebrate their silver, golden and diamond wedding jubilees. God granted them 63 years of happy married life together.

Mother was always in good health till 1948 when she had the misfortune of fracturing her hip. In 1950 she suffered a severe stroke, but again recuperated. On March 31, 1953, she suffered another stroke and had since remained an invalid, not being able to speak, though her mental faculties remained unimpaired. Intermittently she was taken to the hospital for longer periods, but was finally called Home on Dec. 30, 1953, at 6:40 p.m. She reached the age of 82 years, nine months and eight days.

She was a kind and loving wife and mother to her husband and family and though ever so diligent and untiring in her work, she will always be remembered for her patient love with which she directed the household affairs of her family.

She now leaves to treasure her memory, her bereaved husband, four sons and six daughters, her daughters-in-law, 34 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren as well as her brother by adoption, P. F. Suderman, and many, many friends.—In loving memory, the husband and family.

The Mennonite obituary: 1954 Feb 2 p. 80