Andres, Margaret Gertrude (1865-1944)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Feb 3 p. 5

Birth date: 1865 Dec 25

text of obituary:

Local News

. . .

— Funeral services were held here at the Moody Funeral chapel Friday afternoon for Miss Margaret Gertrude Andres, who for many years was a resident in an old people's home in Kansas City, Kansas. Miss Andres who was 79 years old and almost helpless, died as the result of burns she received when the home was destroyed by fire. Among the closest relatives here are Mrs. E. A. Renich, P. M. Claassen and Mrs. John Regier, Sr. The funeral services on Friday were in charge of Rev. J. E. Entz and burial took place in Greenwood cemetery.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Feb 10 p. 3

text of obituary:

MARGARET ANDRES

The following is the autobiography of Margaret Andres as she wrote it three years ago:

I was born December 25, 1865, on a farm near Willenberg, Germany. My childhood was a happy one. When in my sixth year I attended a girls' school in Marienburg and later in Neutrich under the supervision of Miss Elisabeth Krug. Our early religious instructions we received in the schools and from our dear God-fearing parents who always admonished us to love and do good and flee from evil.

In 1876 our parents came to America. It was then that our youngest brother, Gustav, died. For two years I had to stay at home and had to miss school on account of sore eyes. at the age of sixteen I went to religious instructions in the Emmaus church near Whitewater. This was another happy time in my life. In June, 1882, I was baptized by dear Uncle Leonard Suderman.

When the Bible school at Halstead opened its doors I attended there three years and later in Emporia. Then I taught school in the country near St. John.

In 1896 my dear mother passed away. The next year I went to Colorado on account of my health (rheumatism) and later I went to Siloam Springs, Arkansas. It helped but it did not cure me. On December 4, 1900 our dear father passed away.

When I was in Siloam Springs I heard they needed help at a Baptist Mission School. The next fall I went to the Murrow Indian Orphan Home at Atoka, Okla. Then I spent four years as cook in Government Indian schools. That work finally proving too heavy, I went to Oklahoma City and did private housework, also taking care of two T. B. patients.

In 1918 I came to Kansas City where I continued housekeeping and nursing. Here I fell in line with the visiting nurses and through them I got several places to take care of the sick. i kept that up till I broke my right leg. After being in the hospital for ten weeks I found a very good home with the Fred Yulich's. I stayed with them eight and one-half years, helping with the housework.

Then when I could not climb the steps any more, I went to live with a Mennonite family, Mr. and Mrs. Autenrieth, who were in charge of a home for the aged. In 1938 I was laid up with rheumatism for seven months. Then with the greatest effort I learned to walk again with two crutches.

To the above she added:

My friends will want to know how I spent my time here — mostly sitting on the edge of my bed or rocking chair doing handwork or reading the Bible and writing letters. God is very good to me. I have many blessings yet to be thankful for. First the blessed hope of Eternal Salvation. Then I have found quite a few friends here who are very kind to me, the many friends and relatives whoa re writing to me, and I am able to read and write and type with my crippled hands. God is good to me, and I am quite happy in the Lord our Saviour. But I get lonely and then I sing the songs, "Count Your Many Blessings." "Harre Meine Seele," and "Lasz Mich Gehen" etc. I can't do anything else but pray, pray without ceasing. Thy Kingdom come, O God, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven"

Relatives have added:

Miss Andres stayed with this family for over five years. Then Mrs. Autenrieth could not take care of Miss Andres any longer on account of her health, so Miss Andres had to move again. She found a new home at 2917 Junction Rd., Kansas City, Kansas. Here she was happy, but her stay was only for a few months. This closes Miss Andres' autobiography. On January 24, 1944, the Lord called her home in the tragic fire which completely destroyed the home in which she was staying.

Blessed are they that die in the Lord. Her parents were Jacob and Mary Dick Andres. She reached the age of 78 years and one moth. She leaves two sisters, Mrs. Lizzie Sawatsky, Perry Oklahoma, and Mrs. Emily Tieguth, Elk city, Oklahoma, and their families. She was the aunt of Mrs. Mary Hiebert of Atchison, and Mrs. E. A. Renich of Newton; also a cousin to Mr. P. M Claassen and Mrs. John Regier Sr. of Newton.