Kroeker, Margaretha Esau (1873-1952)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1952 Jul 17 p. 6

Birth date: 1873 Jul 10

text of obituary:

. . .

— Word has been received here that Mrs. Margaretha Kroeker, 79, died Tuesday morning in McPherson while waiting to see a doctor. She was a member of the Bethel Mennonite church and lived in the Home for Aged at Inman in recent years. Her husband, Rev. Klaas Kroeker, died in 1942. One daughter and seven sons and their families survive.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1952 Aug 7 p. 9

text of obituary:

MRS. KLAAS KROEKER

Our beloved mother Mrs. Margaretha (Esau) Kroeker was born in Sparau, South Russia, July 10, 1873, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Esau. In 1875 her parents with their family moved to America and settled southwest of Inman, Kansas, where she grew to womanhood. She realized her lost condition, sought forgiveness of sins and was baptized upon her confession of faith by Elder Heinrich Toews on June 6, 1892, and was received as a member into the Bethel church, whose faithful member she remained to the end.

January, 23, 1894, our parents were united in marriage. This union was blessed with eight children, seven sons and one daughter, all of them still living. For more than 48 years they were permitted to share joys and sorrows. Father was elected to the ministry in 1894. This caused heart-searching and prayer till he felt ready to accept the call and to serve. This was in 1898.

Another period of testing, prayer and eventual joy was during the serious illness of their daughter in 1910. Through prayer God restored health and also gave a clearer understanding of salvation.

In 1911 father was elected to serve as elder and was ordained the following year. This election as well as the years of service in the church brought many problems and difficulties, but also joys to our parents. Father served as elder till 1936, 24 years, and continued to help along as health permitted. Mother shared the work in the church faithfully. Several times during this period there was no deacon and that work was also taken care of by parents.

In 1937, father broke his hip. Mother cared for him devotedly. To help in the care her daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Wiens, moved to the farm to be with them, later moving into the same house. They lived with her and cared for her till June 1948, when mother went to live in the home for the aged, where she spent the remaining years of her life. Father died in 1942.

During her stay in the Home she was willing and anxious to help along wherever opportunity offered itself, especially also in helping those older and more feeble than she. Because of her own physical condition she went to see a physician, on Monday, July 14. It was agreed that she should come back for an x-ray picture the following day. That morning, July 15, she rose at five o’clock and prayed long and fervently. She said that she would not go if it had not been agreed upon. Repeatedly she had expressed a desire to be taken home to glory. Monday she told one of us that her work in this world was completed. While going to McPherson on Tuesday she expressed a doubt as to whether she would be in church for communion on Sunday. Unexpectedly she passed away while the doctor was taking the x-ray picture, at about 11:45 a.m., July 15, having reached the age of 79 years and five days. The cause of her death was evidently the condition of her heart and its final failure.

We shall remember her as a loving and praying mother. One of her prayers was that the whole family might some day be with Christ in glory. We mourn but not without hope, for we look forward to meeting her in the celestial mansions.

Survivors include one daughter and her husband, Mrs. J. T. Wiens of Dallas, Oregon; seven sons and their wives, Abraham of Buhler, Klaas of Hutchinson, Peter, Henry, Jacob, Martin and George of Inman; 21 grandchildren; four grandchildren by marriage; four great grandchildren; one brother Gerhard Esau of Buhler; two sisters-in-law. Mrs. Abraham Esau and Mrs. Hartin [sic Martin] Esau; one foster sister, Mrs. Ben Bergen and her husband; one sister-in-law and one brother-in-law from father’s side, as well as other relatives and friends. Father, five brothers, two sisters and one grandchild preceded her in death. We are comforted with the thought of heavenly blessings: — The Bereaved Family

The Mennonite obituary: 1952 Aug 26 p. 535