Wall, Maria Sukkau (1903-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Jun 21 p. 29

Birth date: 1903 Apr 14

text of obituary:

MARIA WALL

Marie Wall passed away Apr. 13. She was born Apr. 14, 1903 to Jacob and Anna Sukkau in Sparrau, Molotschna, Ukraine. In 1922 she was baptized in Pordenauer Mennonite Church. She married Isaak Wall in 1924; 7 children were born. Daughter Anna died shortly after birth. In 1938 Isaak was taken away; he died the same year. Together with her sister, she was able to buy her parents' house. She had little means of support. After 2 months youngest daughter Selma died. Maria was forced to dig trenches for the war. She was captured by the Germans but her children avoided being sent to Siberia, and they were reunited. The family fled to Poland in 1943, arriving at a refugee camp in Warthegau in 1944. They worked for a farmer. In 1945, while fleeing again, she was captured by the Russians and sent to Kazakhstan with her 3 sons. In 1956 she regained her freedom. In 1979 she joined her daughters in Canada, after having been separated for 35 years. She was in relatively good health during her 23 years in Canada. She lived in Sunny South Lodge for 7 years, then Coaldale (Alta.) Health Care Centre for her last 2 years. Predeceased by Isaak and children Anna, Selma, Jakob and Walter, she is mourned by children Johann of Germany, Mary Dick of Coaldale and Christine Pfeifer of Sidney, B.C.; 9 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; 1 brother and 1 sister. The funeral was Apr. 19 in Coaldale MB Church, with Lorne Willms and Rudy Heidebrecht ministering.