Kroeker, Henry G. (1877-1968)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1968 Apr 4 p. 15

Birth date: 1877 Jan 17

text of obituary:

HENRY G. KROEKER

Henry G. Kroeker, son of George and Justina Kroeker, was born on Jan. 17, 1877, in the Molotschna Colony of South Russia. He was the youngest of five children, all of whom preceded him in death. He emigrated to the U. S. with his parents when he was 18 months old. They settled on a farm in McPherson County near Inman, Kan. At the age of 21 he was baptized into the fellowship of the Bethel Church at Inman.

He was married to Agnes Pankratz on Nov. 15, 1899. They had one son, Henry, who was born on June 20, 1900, and died on May 3, 1903. His wife Agnes died on Oct. 30 of the same year.

On May 10, 1904, he married Margaret Pankratz with whom he enjoyed almost 64 years of happy married life. To this union were born 11 children, two of whom preceded him in death: George, who was killed in a car-train accident on Aug. 6, 1936, and John, who died in 1917 at the age of six weeks. the nine living children are: Agnes (Mrs. John Baergen), Justina (Mrs. John Funk), Mary (Mrs. John Hofmeister), Henry, Pete, Frank, and Paul, all of Chouteau, Okla.; Velma (Mrs. Burl Williams) of Tulsa, and Margaret (Mrs. Rahlen Unrau) of Inola, Okla.

In 1914 the family moved from Kansas to Rogers County, Oklahoma. Two years later they moved to Mayes County where they lived on a farm near Chouteau. By 1937 most of the children had left home, so they moved to a smaller farm between Chouteau and Inola, where he and his wife lived until they retired in 1955 to Chouteau.

When he moved to Oklahoma, he transferred his membership to the Eden Mennonite Church which was being organized at the time. He was one of the charter members and the main carpenter on the first church building. He remained an active and faithful member until his death. On July 8, 1963, he suffered a stroke which left him a semi-invalid and partly paralyzed for the remainder of his life. After five weeks in the hospital, he was taken home where his wife, with the help of the children, took care of him during the remaining years of his life.

On Dec. 17, 1967, he became ill with the flu from which he did not recover. He died on Jan. 5, 1968, at the age of 90 years, 11 months, and 19 days. Besides his wife and children, he leaves to mourn numerous nieces and nephews, one brother-in-law and a sister-in-law, 22 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren.

The Bible and music were always major interests in his life, and he memorized countless Scripture passages and songs. One of his favorite songs and invariable request at family gatherings was "Ich Weiss Einen Strom." For many years before the piano was used, he led the singing in church, and in remembrance of his great love of music, a memorial fund has been established to help provide music in the church by purchasing songbooks.

The Mennonite obituary: 1968 Feb 6 p. 97