Andres, Joanna Sudermann (1903-1998)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 30 Apr 1998 p. 11

Birth date: 1903

text of obituary:

JOANNA S. ANDRES

Joanna Sudermann Andres was born Dec. 6, 1903, on her grandparents estate in South Russia, the third child of Jasha and Amy Greaves Sudermann.

Early in childhood she sustained the loss of her father but was given a second father when her mother married Gustav R. Enss. In order to further her studies at the University of Berlin, the family moved to Berlin in 1912. Caught in the maelstrom of World War I, the family stayed with relatives in England, and then came to live with relatives in Beatrice, Neb., in 1914.

Joanna grew up in a home environment rich not in things but in thought and experience. Her parents shared with their children the treasures of literature, art and music.

After completing a bachelor of arts degree at Goshen (Ind.) College, she took seminary training for a bachelor of theology degree and later received a bachelor of science degree in education. She greatly enjoyed her years of elementary school teaching and the work of education in the church.

On Aug. 16, 1931, at Goshen, she married Herman Andres of Newton, Kan. Home, school and church were her predominent [sic] interests as well as the hospitals of the community. Volunteering for various needs was an exciting adventure, as was also the editing of various publications. she was a longtime volunteer at Bethel Deaconess Hospital and Prairie View and a member of First Mennonite Church, all in Newton.

She is survived by a son, James H., of Rosthern, Sask.; a daughter, Amy E. Reed of Broomfield, Colo.; four sisters, Amy Preckshot of Columbia, Mo., Haidie Stover of Souderton, Pa., Ruth Blocksma and Frieda Enns, both of Jacksonville, Fla., and Vera Kemp of Sun City West, Ariz.; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded n death by her husband, Herman, two brothers, George Sudermann and Jake Sudermann; and two sisters, Mary Hipple and Justina Bowyer.