Andreas, Catharine Claassen (1851-1925)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1925 Jan 29 p. 7

Birth date: 1851 Oct 23

Text of obituary:

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The Mennonite obituary: 1925 Feb 5 p. 7

Text of obituary:

Andreas—Mrs. Catharine Andreas was born October 23, 1851, at Klein Lichtenau, West Prussia. Her parents were Johann and Catharine Claassen. She received her schooling in the local village school. In 1869 her parents moved with her and two of her brothers to Caldowe, a suburb of Marienburg, in order to provide better care for the father's failing health and to prepare for emigrating to a foreign country. On the 18th of May of that year she was baptized on the confession of her faith by the Elder Gerhard Penner and was received into the membership of the church at Heubuden. At this time an immigration to Russia, for the sake of religious freedom was contemplated. The family was bereaved of their beloved father, through death, in the spring of 1874.

Two years later, in 1876, the deceased with her mother and two brothers came to America, making a temporary home at Mount Pleasant, Iowa. From there they came to Beatrice, Nebraska, where the problems of pioneer life were courageously met and solved. On January 9, 1879 she was married to William Andreas and made her home with him upon a farm adjoining Beatrice to the east, where she has continued to live until her death. Four children, two sons and two daughters were born to this union. The then invalid mother of the deceased shared their home and received faithful care until her death in 1890. Mrs. Andreas was privileged to celebrate the 25th wedding anniversary with her husband in 1904 and to share life's joys and sorrows with him for a period of 19 additional years. On June 8, 1923 her husband was called to the Great Beyond and although she missed him very keenly she submissively bowed to the will of God. As a wife and mother she always exercised a sacrificing love and care for the members of her family. This unselfish love was also bestowed upon her fellow beings in general; she was always glad to assist in lifting the burdens of others. Her prayers and contributions were offered liberally and often unbeknown. She has faithfully performed her duties and through her life has taught others how to live and how to die. On January 2nd she developed a case of pneumonia and when on the 7th of that month her last hour struck she was privileged to see with glorified countenance that what she had believed. The funeral took place on January 10th. Words of comfort to the bereaved were spoken at the home by Rev. H. D. Penner in English and Rev. Peter Reimer in German, and at the church by Rev. John N. Penner. She is survived by two sons, two daughters, one son-in-law, two daughters-in-law, five grandchildren, two brothers, two sisters-in-law, many other relatives and a host of friends.