Enns, Agnes Neufeld (1897-1965)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Oct 14 p. 3

Birth date: 1897 Mar 24

text of obituary:

Former Missionary To Congo Called Away in Death

Inman, Kan. — Mrs. Frank Enns, 68, who with her husband served as a missionary to the Congo for 34 years, died at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton on Oct. 5. Death came unexpectedly while she apparently was making good recovery following surgery.

Funeral services were held Friday forenoon at the Bethel Mennonite Church near here. Rev. P. A. Wedel was in charge. Also taking part in the service were Fev.. A. R. Shelly, representing the General Conference Board of Missions, and Rev. Reuben Short, executive secretary of the Congo Inland Mission.

Mrs. Enns, the former Agnes Neufeld, was born here in 1897. She attended academy and college and taught for three years in a rural school.

She was married here to Rev. Frank Enns in 1926, and in the fall of that year they left for the Congo under the Congo Inland Mission. They retired in 1960.

In the Congo Mrs. Enns taught and supervised teachers, was active in women's work, and accompanied her husband on trips to visit schools and churches. For some time Rev. Enns was field chairman for th C.I.M.

Surviving in addition to Rev. Enns are one son, John of Kansas City; two daughters, Katherine of Inman, and Mrs. Emerson Neufeld of Buhler; and six grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Nov 18 p. 11

text of obituary:

MRS. FRANK J. ENNS

Agnes Neufeld Enns was born March 24, 1897, on a farm near Inman, Kan., the fourth child of Isaac and Katharine Toews Neufeld.

Her first schooling was received in a private German school where much stress was put on religious training. Her first teacher later became a missionary to India. From her she received her first ideas of people in non-Christian countries. She continued her education in district school, and later in academy and college.

At the age of 16 she found her Saviour. She was baptized upon confession of faith in Christ on June 21, 1914, and accepted into the Bethel Mennonite Church near Inman, whose faithful member she remained to the end.

Her call to be a missionary came not long after. She was praying, as was her custom, that the Lord might send laborers into His field, and she seemed to hear a voice saying, "You are to go to the foreign field." That call came unexpectedly, and depressed her. Her mother, noticing it, asked what worried her. She told her. Mother's only answer was, "Let us pray about it."

After more years of study she taught three years in rural schools. This she enjoyed very much, but she was not completely satisfied. Attending college to further prepare for teaching, the doors to the mission field in Africa opened up. Complete surrender came when she claimed the promise of her favorite verse, "My grace is sufficient for thee."

On June 11, 1926, she entered holy matrimony with Frank J. Enns, and that fall we sailed for Africa. Peace and satisfaction of knowing she was at the place to which God had called her helped her over the difficult places of our work in Africa. But it had not come without a struggle. Referring to our applications to the Congo Inland Mission Board she once wrote, "When they were accepted I began praying for a great love for the Africans to to whom we were to be sent. God answered this prayer when we saw a boat load of Congolese meeting our ship in the harbor . . . . I could love the Africans, and it has been a true joy and a life of peace and contentment to be a missionary."

On the mission field she gave much of her time to teaching and supervision of teachers. She writes of how it never ceased to thrill her to see rooms full of "happy faces and to realize the great opportunity of teaching them of a Saviour. Work with the choir was very rewarding, because the Africans love to sing."

Mother also engaged in work with women. Through her quiet and devoted ways she won the hearts of the Congolese. Often she would also accompany me on itineraries on which we helped with the school and evangelistic work of the church.

Since our retirement from the mission field in 1960 mother devoted herself to the family. She also took great interest in the activities of the church. She loved the work of the charity society, helping in its work for relief, and also its spiritual ministry of visitation. For some time she also taught a Sunday school class.

Mother generally enjoyed good health. She had an operation early this year from which she made a good recovery. On Sept. 30 she submitted to another operation, and recovery seemed satisfactory. But then unexpectedly early in the morning of Oct. 5 she passed away at the Bethel Hospital in Newton, Kan. She reached the age of 68 years, six months, and 11 days.

Mother found much strength and comfort from reading the Bible. She read it through many times. Her faith in God was an inspiration to us all.

Mother leaves to mourn her passing her deeply bereaved husband; son John and wife Lois of Kansas City, daughter Katharine of Inman, daughter Norma Ruth and husband Emerson Neufeldt of Buhler; six grandchildren; two brothers, Abe B. Neufeld, Inman, and George B. Neufeld, Elkhart, Ind., and many other relatives and friends. Those preceding her in death were her parents, three brothers and two sisters.

The memorial service was held at the Bethel Church near Inman on oct. 8, 1965, at 10 a.m. with Rev. P. A. Wedel officiating, assisted by Rev. Reuben short of the Congo Inland Mission and Rev. Andrew B. Shelly of the General Conference Baird of Missions. a pre-service for the relatives was conducted by Rev. John Thiessen. interment was made at the Buhler cemetery. — The Bereaved Husband.

The Mennonite obituary: 1965 Oct 19 p. 654