Schmidt, Maria Unrau (1891-1964)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Jan 14 p. 11

Birth date: 1891 Feb 9

text of obituary:

MARIA U. SCHMIDT

Maria U. Schmidt, Goessel, Kan., daughter of Peter H. Schmidt and Anna Unrau, was born Feb. 9, 1891 in Marion County, Kan. She attended the Hochfeld elementary school. On June 4, 1911, she was baptized upon her confession of faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior and received into the membership of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Goessel. The Elder Heinrich Banman officiated. She was an active church member. While she lived in Hillsboro, she joined the First Mennonite Church, but transferred back to Alexanderwohl in 1962.

The heart of her life consisted in the benevolent caring for other people. First of all, she lived with her parents and cared for them until their death. She spent a good portion of her life working in institutions that minister to elderly and helpless people. She worked in Hillsboro, Kansas City, McPherson, Salem, Ore. and Idaho. From 1942-1945 she established a mission home in Hillsboro, providing a rest home for elderly people. This was the zenith of her ambition. She had to relinquish this work for health reasons.

She really never enjoyed robust health, but her dynamic spirit and courage allowed her to do many things which others would have considered impossible. Her last three years were spent at the Bethesda Home, Goessel, Kan. She died unexpectedly of a heart attack at 5 a.m., Dec.19, 1964, having reached the age of 73 years, 11 months and nine days.

Those remaining to cherish the memory of her life are her brother, Peter U., and one sister Anna and her husband, Peter J. Franz, all of Goessel; one sister-in-law, Mrs. J. U. Schmidt, Newton, many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.