Unrau, Katherina Fast (1883-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Jul 17 p. 8

Birth date: 1883 Apr 30

text of obituary:

MRS. HEINRICH H. UNRAU

Mrs. Katherina (Fast) Unrau was born to Rev. Heinrich E. and Katherina (Eitzen) Fast, west of Mt. Lake, Minn., April 30, 1883.

Mother was baptized upon the confession of her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour by Elder Aron Wall when she was 15 years of age, and also accepted as member of the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren church of Mt. Lake. She received some of her education in the Bible School on this church yard.

Mother was united in holy matrimony to Heinrich H. Unrau by Elder Aron Wall, March 7, 1901. Our parents farmed seven miles west of Mt. Lake. The Lord blessed this home with eight children; four daughters were born here, Katherina, Anna, Maria and Helen.

In 1913 they moved to 18 miles north of Chinook, Mont., on a homestead. Sara, Aganetha, Susie, and Nellie were born here and the oldest three joined the E. M. B. church of Chinook.

In 1925 the family moved on a farm in the Lustre community. Here they all joined the Lustre E. M. B. church, of which mother was a faithful member to the end. In 1926 they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. They were also privileged to honor the Lord at their golden wedding anniversary in 1951. The Lord permitted them to live together for 57 years and nearly four months.

It was mother's joy to work on mission projects and at the Ladies' Aid meetings. We recall her concern and many prayers for the needy and those without Christ; also for the children and grandchildren.

In 1953 our parents bought a house in Wolf Point, Mont., moving their in the fall. On June 7, 1958 at the dinner table mother had a very severe stroke which nearly paralyzed her completely so that she was unable to speak or eat. In this condition she lived for 24 days, in the local hospital. As much as we know she suffered no pains during this time. Previous to this she had lighter strokes, the first one on the farm in the winter of 1950. This slowed her up and partially paralyzed her. She, however, was able to do most of the house work, until she was taken to the hospital.

Preceeding her in death are her parents, five brothers, and her oldest daughter, Katherina, Mrs. Jacob N. Thiessen, Dallas, Ore.

She is survived by her husband, Heinrich H. Unrau, Anna, Mrs. John D. Becker, Aberdeen, Idaho, Maria, Mrs. Ted. B. Wedel, Lustre, Helen, Mrs. O. J. Wall, Frazer, Mont., Sara, Mrs. Jacob D. Wall, Frazer, Aganeth, Mrs. David A. Wall, Lustre, Susie, Mrs. Roland Toews, Lustre, Nellie, Mrs. Jacob Rauch, Wolf Point, Mont., one brother, George E. Fast, New Ulm, Minn., one sister, Mrs. Henry B. Reimer, Winnipeg, Manitoba; 28 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

At the age of 75 years, two months and one day, mother left this life to be with her Lord, July 1, 1958 at 11:15 p. m. “Blessed are the dead which died in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them.” Rev. 14:13. — Father and Children.