Jantz, Harpa Eleanor Schmidt (1917-1977)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 21 Apr 1977 p. 11

Birth date: 1917 Aug 4

text of obituary:

HARPA ELEANOR JANTZ

Harpa Eleanor Schmidt Jantz was born Aug. 4, 1917, in Mayes County, Oklahoma to Adolf and Anna Schmidt. She was the eldest of two daughters. She received her elementary education at Longview Grade School and graduated from Chouteau High School in 1935.

On May 22, 1932, at the age of 15, she was baptized and received as a member of the Eden Mennonite Church, Inola, Okla.

On April 26, 1941, she married Rudy Jantz and shared married life with him for nearly 36 years. The first year of married life they lived with his family, and then lived in a two-room house in the same yard until they moved to the present location one mile east of the church. to this union were born three sons, Harvey, Calvin and Curtis, and one daughter, Sylvia.

She enjoyed farm life and gardening and the many friends she made with her milk and eff business. She always took time to listen and share with others.

She was a faithful member of the church and much interested in its work. She served a number of years as president of the Women’s Missionary Society. She worked with the Childrens’ Bible Memory Program, taught Sunday school and Bible school, and took care of the choice Bookrack.

The family will remember her for her quiet spirit and her love for her husband, children and grandchildren.

Early in November of 1976 she became ill with cancer. After three surgeries and three stays in the hospital, she died at the home on Apr. 2, 1977 at the age of 59.

She leaves her husband; three sons, Harvey and wife Verna and two children, Calvin and wife Mary and two children, all of Inola; and Curtis and wife Marcia of Hesston, Kan.; and one daughter, Sylvia, of the home, her step-mother, Mrs. Anna Schmidt of Goessel, Kan., and one sister, Mrs. Neva Unrau of Lincoln, Neb.

Funeral services were held Apr. 6, 1977 at 10:30 a.m. at the Eden Mennonite Church with burial at the Eden Cemetery.