Gaeddert, Agatha Regier (1866-1950)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Aug 17 p. 4

Birth date: 1866 Oct 26

text of obituary:

— Mrs. Agatha Gaeddert, 83, mother of Mrs. John Unruh of Newton and widow of David Gaeddert, passed away at the home of another daughter, Mrs. L. W. Regier, in Moundridge on Wednesday, Aug. 9. Funeral services were held at the Hoffnungsau church near Inman last Saturday with Revs. Albert Gaeddert, A. J. Dyck, and C. H. Voth officiating. Mrs. Gaeddert, who was born in South Russia Oct. 26, 1866, leaves five daughters, three sons, a number of children and great grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. J. W. Toews of Moundridge.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Aug 24 p. 6

text of obituary:

MRS. DAVID GAEDDERT

Agatha (Regier) Gaeddert daughter of Heinrich and Sarah Regier was born October 26, 1866, and departed this life into the Great Beyond on August 9, 1950, at about eleven o'clock Wednesday morning. She reached the age of 83 years, nine months and 13 days.

She was born in the Rudnerweide Village, South Russia and together with her parents came to America when she was nine years of age. Her parents settled in the region east of Buhler, where she grew to womanhood when the prairies were being converted into the new homes of the early settlers.

On December 14, 1884, she was baptized upon confession of faith in Jesus Christ as her Saviour by Elder Dietrich Gaeddert, and united with the Hoffnungsau Mennonite church, where she remained a faithful member until the death summons called her to join the great Invisible Church on the Other Side.

On March 7, 1889, she was united in marriage to David D. Gaeddert, son of Elder Dietrich Gaeddert and maria (Martens) Gaeddert. Into this family were born 12 children, of whom four have preceded her in death: Sarah, who died when almost a year old; Helen, Mrs. David Siemens; and Heinrich and Dietrich, both of whom died in infancy. She was privileged to live with her husband for a little more than 30 years, when he was taken from her side, leaving her a widow with a large family.

For the greater part of her married life she lived on a farm eight and one-half miles east of Buhler, where she gave herself to the bringing up of her children. Here also her husband died in 1920, leaving her with the children to make their way. In 1930 she sold her farm and moved to Buhler where she lived with her children until they all married. In the sunset years of her life she stayed with her children in their homes and it was at the home of the oldest daughter where she passed away on Wednesday morning, August 9.

Mother was deeply devoted to her home and the children. With the same devotion also she loved the church and it was her first concern to bring her children to the knowledge of their Saviour and to have each of them claim Him as the personal Savior and Redeemer. She had a keen interest in what was being done in the church. When visitors came, especially also in the days of her illness, she would soon have questions regarding the welfare of her children and about the church. She loved the Word of God, and delighted to hear it preached. Likewise she also loved to read and study her Bible, and many are the markings that have been made in the Good Book with which she spent a great portion of her time. Favorite verses were underscored, and passages marked that especially commended themselves to her. Her hymn book likewise contained the markings of her favorite hymns.

Within he last years she had been afflicted with frequent illnesses, and had often been hospitalized. After a long stay at the Goessel hospital, lasting nearly three months, she rallied again so that she could go back to her children. On Tuesday, August 8, she had another serious attack which came repeatedly throughout the day and the succeeding night until the next morning when she quietly passed away to be with the Lord, to whom she continually looked for help.

Following a long life which was often beset with difficult problems and which required the endurance of much suffering and pain, we are grateul [sic] that she could go to her rest; and we look forward to meet her again in the mansions that have been prepared for us.

She leaves to mourn her departure eight children: Marie, Mrs. Geo. L. Regier, and her husband, Moundridge, David R. and his wife and family of Buhler, Henry and his wife also of Buhler; Anna, Mrs. John Froese, and her husband and family of San Benito, Texas; Bertha, Mrs. Frank L. Penner, and her husband and family of Inman; Jacob and his wife and family, also of Inman; Agatha, Mrs. David Siemens and her husband and family of Hesston; and Justina, Mrs. John Unruh, and her husband and family of Goessel, Kansas. Also 20 grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Taves of Moundridge, her aged mother-in-law and many other relatives and friends are left to mourn her passing. --- The children and grandchildren.