Bartel, Anna Schmidt (1887-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Sep 13 p. 6

Birth date: 1887 Sep 11

text of obituary:

. . .

— Mrs. Anna Bartel, 68, wife of Peter Bartel and a lifelong resident of Marion County, died Sunday morning at the Bethesda Hospital in Goessel. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, of which she was a member. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Bartel leaves nine children, 30 grandchildren, and brothers and sisters.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Oct 4 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. PETER BARTEL

Anna Schmidt Bartel, daughter of Peter and Helena Unruh Schmidt, was born Sept.11, 1887, near Goessel, Kansas. She received her elementary education in the Gordon School near Goessel.

On June 3, 1906, she was baptized by Elder Peter Balzer and received into the membership of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, where she remained a faithful member until her death.

On May 20, 1908, she was united in marriage to Peter Bartel by Elder Wilhelm J. Ewert at her family residence near Goessel. They made their home five miles east of the Alexanderwohl Church. Here she spent the rest of her life as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. It was a joy to her that in 1933 they were privileged to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary at their home. In May of1953 the family celebrated the 45th wedding anniversary for which mother was humbly grateful.

From her youth, she suffered much from rheumatism. In 1948 she became seriously ill with a heart ailment. She committed herself to the will of God saying that if God would let her get well she would be satisfied, but if God would take her home, she would be satisfied also. Through the ministries of the physicians and nurses of the Bethesda Hospital, the Lord restored her to partial health. However, from that time on, her physical activities were very limited.

Friday, Sept. 7, she had an attack that affected her eyesight, and she was taken to the Bethesda Hospital Saturday morning. Sunday morning, Sept. 9, two days before her 69th birthday, she left her mortal body to be with the Lord. We know that she was ready to meet her Creator and Saviour.

Mother was deeply concerned for her family in spiritual matters. We will always cherish the memory of mother teaching us our first prayers and telling us Bible stories. She enjoyed reading our Sunday school and bible school lessons to us and retelling them to us in her own words so that all the characters became very vivid to us. She loved to sing Gospel songs and hymns and teach them to her children. To help us with our memory work for Sunday school, Christmas programs, and Christian Endeavor meetings was her delight.

Regular church attendance was a must with mother. Often when we thought that it would be best for her to stay home, she would insist on attending church services and mid-week Bible classes. She listened regularly to the weekly German Gospel program from the local radio station.

Mother read much. She read the Bible through in both German and English simultaneously. Recently she read a chapter each day. When her eyesight began to fail, she was greatly concerned about giving up her Bible reading.

It was a real source of happiness for her to see all ten of her children establish their own Christian homes. Those who were thus added to her family all became dear to her. Very often she would find new comfort and cheer when her grandchildren would come to see her. Recently she happily reminded us that she now had thirty grandchildren.

As we recall these memories of mother we know that if she could, she would remind us that she had not been perfect, to which we would reply, "You have fought a good fight, you have kept the faith."

Mother reached the age of 68 years, 11 months, and 29 days. She is survived by her husband, Peter Bartel, and her children: Adolf J. of Route 2 Hillsboro, Paul, Herbert and Selma (Mrs. Jona Reimer), all of Route 2 Newton, Leonhard of Marion, S. D., Roland of Eugene, Oregon, Peter S. of Lawrence, Kansas, Otto of Route 2 Hillsboro, Martha (Mrs. Ralph Peters) of Route 2, Hillsboro, and Linda (Mrs. Milton Goertzen) of Route 2 Newton.

She is survived by two brothers, Peter B. and Jacob B. Schmidt; two sisters, Mrs. D. L. Schmidt and Mrs. A. N. Dirksen; two step brothers, Henry and David Ediger; a step sister, Mrs. Maria Schmidt; 30 grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and step-mother; three brothers, Samuel, John and Paul; and three sisters, Katie, Agnes (Mrs. Walter H. Dyck), and Marie.

Funeral services were held in the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 2:00 p.m., in charge of Rev. P. A. Wedel assisted by Rev. H. B. Schmidt and Rev. H. J. Dyck. — Peter Bartel and Family.