Pankratz, David J. (1904-1973)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1973 Oct 05 p. 30

Birth date: 1904 Oct 14

text of obituary:

REV. DAVID J. PANKRATZ

Rev. David J. Pantratz of Coaldale, Alta. passed away on Thursday, August 30, after a prolonged illness. He was born October 14, 1904 to John and Aganetha Pankratz of Waldheim, Molotschna, south Russia, where he grew up. He was baptized and accepted into the Mennonite Brethren Church in 1928. That same year he emigrated to Canada with his wife Anna, whom he had married in 1926. They settled at Coaldale, where they lived until his death, first on a farm and later in town.

Rev. Pantratz was very active in church and conference work, having served as Sunday school teacher, assistant to the pastor and minister in many capacities. On January 13, 1946 he was ordained to the ministry. He served as pastor of the Coaldale MB Church for 17 years. He also served as moderator of the provincial (Alberta) and Canadian conferences.

There was an overflow attendance at the funeral in the Coaldale Church on September 2. The speakers were Rev. Peter Doerksen of Coaldale who spoke on Jer.31:3, Isa.35:10 and Gen.24:56 in the German, and Rev. Alec Neumann of Lethbridge, who spoke on Romans 8:28-39. The Coaldale men's choir sang. The graveside service was conducted by Rev. Henry Kornelson.

Many prayers had been offered up to God for Rev. Pankratz's recovery, since he was still pastor of the Coaldale Church at the time of his last hospitalization, but after much suffering, God saw fit to call him home. He is survived by his wife, Anna; two daughters, Mrs. Willard (Erika) Penner and Mrs. Jake (Ella) Penner, both of Grassy Lake, Alta.; two sons, Victor of LaGlace, Alta., and Werner, of Vancouver; one sister, Agnes Unruh, in Russia; and two brothers, Peter, in Russia, and Jacob, now in Germany, formerly of Montreal.