Goertzen, Mathilda Wedel (1898-1986)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1 Jan 1987 p. 8

Birth date: 1898

text of obituary:

NEWTON & VICINITY

. . .

● Mathilda Goertzen, 88, formerly of Newton, died on Dec. 24 at Schowalter Villa in Hesston. Funeral services were held on Dec. 27 at First Mennonite Church, Newton, with Floyd G. Bartel officiating. Burial was in Restlawn Gardens of Memory. Survivors include one son, Irvin E. Goertzen of Hillsboro; two daughters, Edna Ruth Graber of Hesston and Helen Bachman of Newton; one brother, Ben Wedel of Newton; three sisters, Marie Banman of North Newton and Tina and Arpa Wedel, both of Hutchinson; 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death in 1973 by her husband, Henry S. Goertzen.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 19 Feb 1987 p. 11

text of obituary:

MATHILDA WEDEL GOERTZEN

Mathilda Wedel Goertzen was the second child born to Benjamin B. and Elizabeth Unrau Wedel on Jan. 15, 1898. Her mother died when she was 11 years old, an event of which she often spoke.

She received her elementary school education at Good Hope School. She attended Bethel Academy for two years, after which she taught school in the Goessel, Kan., area until her marriage to Henry Goertzen on May 25, 1922. They established their home in Newton, where she lived 62 years.

In her youth she was baptized upon confession of faith in Jesus Christ by Elder Heinrich Banman and became a member of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church near Goessel. In 1939 she transferred her membership to First Mennonite Church, Newton, where she enjoyed fellowship until her death.

She loved music, and often sang as she worked about the house and in church groups. In later years, she found much comfort in singing at night when she couldn't sleep. She also loved flowers and spent many hours tending them.

She was active in the sewing and kitchen committees at the church, the Bethel College Women's Auxiliary and Bethel Hospital Senior Auxiliary.

In November 1984 she moved to Schowalter Villa, Hesston. In May 1985 she suffered a heart attack. On Dec. 2, 1986, she suffered a stroke; she died on Dec. 24, 1986.

She leaves to cherish her memory her children and their spouses, Edna Ruth and Marlo Graber, Irvin and Elaine Goertzen and Helen and Donovan Bachman; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one brother, Ben Wedel, and his wife, Helen; and three sisters, Marie Banman and Tina and Arpa Wedel.

Transcribed by Ralph Shetler, Oregon