Goertz, Annie Frances Vogt (1893-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Dec 30 p. 11

Birth date: 1893 Sep 25

text of obituary:

MRS. ANNIE GOERTZ

Mrs. Annie Frances Goertz, daughter of George and Marie (Friesen) Vogt, was born on Sept. 25, 1893 at Newton, Kan. and departed this life Oct. 26, 1971, following a brief illness of a heart condition, at the age of 78 years.

Her early childhood and school days were lived at Moundridge, Kan. Later her family moved to Washita County, Oklahoma. Following another brief stay in Kansas, she moved with the family to Enid in 1910 and lived in the Enid area until her passing.

In her teenage years she recognized her need of Jesus Christ as her sin-forgiving Saviour and life's leader and upon confession of faith, she was baptized on April 20, 1909 by Elder Abraham Schellenberg and received into the Buhler (Kansas) Mennonite Brethren Church. After moving to Enid, her membership was transferred to the North Enid Mennonite Brethren Church where she remained a faithful member to the end of her life. In furtherance of her Christian education she spent periods of time attending the Corn (Okla.) Bible Academy.

On Sept. 27, 1914 she was married to Abraham A. Goertz. Their marriage was blessed with six children and they shared life's experiences for 34 years. In 1948 her husband preceded her in death as a result of heart attack, and she had the responsibility of raising the six children and finding a livelihood for herself and the children. In due time she saw the children find their places in life. Later they were able to aid their mother in her older years, which they did gladly.

Mrs. Goertz always looked forward to Christian fellowship and the work of her Dorcas Sunday School Class and the Sunshine Missionary Circle work. Her jovial spirit and friendliness will be missed for, as it were, "she never met a stranger." The comfort of the survivors is in the promises of the Word of God that, though she is now absent from us, she is "at home with the Lord."

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, in the Enid Mennonite Brethren Church with Rev. Sanford J. Becker officiating. Burial was in the North Enid Old Church Cemetery north of Enid.

Direct survivors are three daughters, Mrs. Harley (Eleanor) Riffel of Enid, Mrs. Thomas (Marie) Franklin of San Jose, Calif., and Mrs. Robert (Sally) Banning, Redonda [sic Redondo] Beach, Calif., three sons, Harry and Milferd [sic Milford] both of San Jose, and Ervin Lee, Enid; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; four sisters, Mrs. Marie Green and Mrs. Sara Hayen [sic Sarah Hayan], both of Enid, Mrs. Martha Janzen of Hutchinson, Kan., and Mrs. Eva Rogers of Wasco, Calif.; and three brothers, Criss [sic Cris] and A. F. Vogt, both of Enid, and Dave Vogt, Van Nuys, Calif. Many friends and acquaintances remain to cherish her memory.