Pankratz, Justina Nikkel Unger (1872-1951)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Mar 8 p. 6

Birth date: 1872 Nov 10

text of obituary:

. . .

— Mrs. P. A. Pankratz, 78, died last Saturday at the Bethesda hospital, Goessel. Funeral services have been announced for Thursday afternoon, March 8, at the First Mennonite church of Hillsboro. Mrs. Pankratz was the mother of Mrs. V. B. Jantz and Dan Unger of Newton and Mrs. B. J. Klassen of Goessel.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Mar 29 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. PETER A. PANKRATZ

Mrs. Justina Pankratz, nee Nikkel, was born on Nov. 10, 1872, in South Russia. At the age of six years she immigrated with her parents, Abr. Nikkels, to America where they settled on a farm near the Alexanderwohl church in Marion Co., Kansas. Here she grew to womanhood.

At the age of nineteen years she fully realized her lost condition and upon the confession of her faith, was baptized and affiliated with the Alexanderwohl Mennonite church. In 1909 she transferred her letter to the First Mennonite church at Hillsboro, Kansas, of which she remained a faithful member to the end, and as long as she was physically able she took an active part in the mission society work.

In 1909 she was united in holy wedlock to our father, Daniel Unger, and it became her responsibility to take the place of mother to eight children of a former marriage. Her trust in god, her kindness and patience soon won for her the trust of the children and she was wholeheartedly accepted and loved as any mother could be loved and a mutual bond of love was established that never was altered.

In 1929 Father Unger passed away and for a number of years she made her home with the different children, where she was always welcome.

On June 6, 1935, she was married to Peter A. Pankratz and they made their home in Hillsboro, Kansas, until October, 1947, when death again came into her life and father Pankratz passed away. At the same time she received a stroke and had to be taken to the Salem hospital. Her condition improved enough that she could be placed in the Mission Home for the aged where she received the best of care. On the 15th day of December she was moved to the Bethesda home at Goessel, as it brought her closer to the children and they could visit her more often.

About two seeks ago her condition became worse and besides high blood pressure, other complications set in and she was taken to the Bethesda hospital where all was done by doctors and loved ones to relieve her suffering. On Saturday, march 3, 1951, she peacefully passed away to be with the Saviour she loved and trusted.

She leaves to mourn her departure the children, a sister-in-law, Mrs. Abr. Nikkel, many relatives and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Abr. Nikkel, two brothers, Abr. and Jacob Nikkel, two sisters, Mrs. Frank Krause and Mrs. Herman Androes.

Her life meant much to us and we mourn. But we have the blessed assurance that she has gone to a better home and some day there will be a happy reunion.

The Jacob Unger family, La Junta, Colo.; H. A. Unger family, Corn, Okla.; Mrs. I. P. Enns and children, Reedley, Calif.; B. J. Klassen family, Goessel, Kans.; V. B. Jantz family, Newton, Kansas; H. D. Unruh family, Reedley; D. G. Unger family, Newton; E. C. Hiebert family, Kansas City, Mo.; Otto Pankratz family, Pasadena, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Ritzmsan, South Gate, Calif.; Mrs. Abr. Nikkel, Goessel.

The Mennonite obituary: 1951 Apr 10l p. 243