Pankratz, Jacob W. (1901-1963)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 Apr 4 p. 8

Birth date: 1901 Sep 3

text of obituary:

JACOB W. PANKRATZ

Jacob W. Pankratz, son of John and Suzanne Kliewer Pankratz, was born on Sept. 3, 1901 at Mt. Lake, Minn. When he was two years old his parents moved to Didsbury, Alberta, Canada. In 1913 they took up a homestead in Montana. In 1925 his mother passed away and the family moved to Munich, N. D.

On Sept. 11, 1927 he was united in marriage to Katie Fast at Munich. They established their home on a farm in this vicinity. Four children were born to this union.

On April 21, 1930 he was baptized upon the confession of his faith in Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour by Rev. Helmuth Ortmann and united with the Salem Mennonite Church at Munich of which he remained a faithful member until his departure.

In October 1951 they left the farm and moved to Munich. After one year they moved to Alsen, N. D. where he resided until his death. They had a dairy until 1956, after which he became a custodian of the Alsen Special School. He lived a great testimony before the family and those with whom he came in contact.

He enjoyed good health until Dec. 28, 1962 when he became ill. The next morning he was admitted to the Langdon hospital where he suffered severe pain until he went into a coma early Sunday morning, Dec. 30. He never regain ed consciousness. The doctors diagnosed his illness as cerebral meningitis. He remained there 29 days, after which he was moved to St. John's Hospital, Fargo. He went to be with the Lord on Jan. 31, reaching the age of 61 years, four months, and 28 days.

He leaves to mourn his departure his wife Katie; one son, Donald of Clyde, N. D.; two daughters, Shirley (Mrs. Dwayne Klein) of Langdon, and Carolyn of Omaha, Neb.; three grandchildren, Rosella, Wayne and Kathy Pankratz; three brothers, John of Munich, Harry of Dallas, Ore., and Wilbur of Calvin, N. D.; three sisters, Annie (Mrs. Louis Hoffman) of Munich, Susanne (Mrs. Art Harrison) of Missoula, Mont., and Gertrude (Mrs. Taunt) of Tacoma, Wash.; his step-mother and three step-sisters.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Delores Joyce, at the age of 19 months, his parents and one sister.

We mourn not as those who have no hope for he has gone to be with his Lord. A verse which meant much to him was Phil. 4:19.