Manning, Augusta Balzer (1899-1968)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1968 Mar 14 p. 10

Birth date: 1899 Jun 24, Kansas
Date of Death: 1968 March 13, California

Augusta Margaret Balzer Manning

text of obituary:

FORMER MISSIONARY DIES

Word was received here Wednesday morning that Mrs. Frank E. Manning, 68, had died at 7:30 a. m. at her home in Glendale, Calif. after a lengthy illness.

She and her husband, who survives, had been long-time missionaries in Africa. Close relatives residing in the Newton vicinity are three sisters, Mrs. Karl Friesen, Mrs. J. J. Voth, and Mrs. W. I. Schroeder.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1968 Mar 28 p. 11

text of obituary:

AUGUSTA BALZER MANNING

Augusta Margaret Balzer Manning was born to Henry P. Balzer and Helena Frey Balzer on June 24, 1899 near Goessel, Kan. Because of the example of godly parents and faithful teaching of the Word of God, she was born again and joined Tabor Mennonite Church.

Augusta was the fourth of ten children. Of her five brothers and four sisters only three older sisters survive, namely: Mrs. Frieda Friesen, Mrs. Maricha Voth and Mrs. Gertrude Schroeder, all of North Newton, Kan.

Augusta taught at Schoenthal country school for several years prior to her graduation from Bethel College in 1924. After college she taught one year in the Claflin, Kan. High School and two years in Hopiland at Oraibi, Ariz. Then she continued her training for the Africa mission field at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles.

On Sept. 11, 1929, she was married to Frank Manning in Tabor Church, Marion County, Kan. Before going to Africa, Augusta joined the Immanuel Mennonite Church of Los Angeles, where her husband was already a member.

In the fall of 1930, she with her husband went to Africa where they labored till 1957. The Mannings were blessed with two daughters, Grace and Merci, both of whom survive. Augusta worked tirelessly on the mission field and many of her beloved African friends are Christians. They first heard of the love of Jesus from her. These mourn as do we, yet not without hope, for to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

During a routine physical checkup in January of 1958, it was discovered that Augusta had a severe case of diabetes which brought on a tired heart condition.

On March 31, 1960, she suffered the first of a number of strokes and heart attacks. Despite her disability, she often traveled with her husband, once to Kansas, once to Colorado, and several times to Northern California. These were always times of refreshing to her as she could tell people of Jesus.

After several stays in hospitals because of a worsening condition, she finally became bedfast on Dec. 1, 1966. Through the grace of God, Augusta was continually able to retain her buoyant joy in the goodness of the Lord. Those who faithfully sought to bring cheer to her were often cheered in their own souls as they visited with her. For this memory we praise the Lord! Augusta passed from death unto life eternal at home early Wednesday morning, March 13, 1968.

Her husband Frank, two daughters, Grace and Merci, with their husbands, Alan and Wayne; five grandchildren, three sisters and three brothers-in-law as well as a multitude of other relatives and countless friends rejoice that she is forever with the Lord, which is far better.

Among many Bible verses precious to Augusta were Isaiah 55: 6-9 and Jeremiah 33:3.

Funeral services were held in the Immanuel Mennonite Church (Albert Epp, pastor) of Downey, Calif. at 10:30 a. m., Saturday, March 16, 1968, with interment in the cemetery at Inglewood, Calif. We shall meet again! Praise the Lord!—The Family.

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The Mennonite obituary: 1968 Apr 16 p. 283

text of obituary:

Augusta Balzer Manning, Immanuel Church, Downey, Calif., was born June 24, 1899, at Goessel, Kan., and died Mar. 13. She served as a missionary in East Africa for twenty-seven years.

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MLA Personal Photos Collection

Biographical note:
Goessel, Kansas
Daughter of Heinrich P. and Helena (Frey) Balzer
Married Frank Eric Manning 1929 September 11, Newton, Kansas (wife 1)
Teacher -- Kansas; Oraibi, Arizona
Missionary -- Zaire and Tanzania, Africa 1930-1957

Bethel alumni note:
Bethel Academy 1919
Bethel College BA 1924

Photo holdings:
See Augusta Margaret (Balzer) Manning (1899-1968) for individual photos
See Heinrich P. Balzer (1868-1957) for 1923 family photo
See Frieda (Balzer) Friesen (1892-1969) for photo with sister
See Frank Eric Manning (1904/1905-1978) for family photos

Sources:
Alumni card
Voth, Hein. Baltzer Gen ... 1959 p. 120
MWR 3-28-1969 p. 11
Grandma Profile #89540