Pankratz, Wilbert B. (1907-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Jul 30 p. 8

Birth date: 1907 Jun 27

text of obituary:

WILBERT B. PANKRATZ

Wilbert B. Pankratz, son of Isaac and Susie (Froese) Pangratz [sic Pankratz], was born in Cordell, Okla. on June 27, 1907.

He met his tragic death on June 3, 1959, when he and his son Harvey were raising a 40-foot length of aluminum pile up into the air and it touched the high voltage power line, the electrical charge knocking him to the ground. He got up to a sitting position and with a glad look on his face said, “Thank God” and fell over.

An attending physician said death might have resulted from shock. Mr. Pankratz had had heart trouble, consequently could not take the shock.

In his teens, upon confession of his faith, he was baptized by Rev. Adam Froese and became a member of the Sircar Mennonite church of Cordell, Okla.

He was united in marriage to Ella Zachariah on July 20, 1931. To this union were born four daughters and two sons.

In 1934 the family moved to Winton, Calif. where later we transferred our membership to the Bethel Mennonite Church. In California my husband was a dairy owner and the last four years engaged in grain farming. We decided to come to Oregon in 1954, where again he was a dairy owner and we transferred out membership to the Grace Mennonite Church of Albany.

My husband was a faithful Christian. He loved to read the word of God. He loved to discuss and explain the Bible with the two children that are at home. Of late he said several times that he was ready to go if the Lord should call.

He leaves to mourn his departure his wife, Ella; four daughters, Lavera and husband Douglas Elzea, Orlean and husband Wayne Hancock, Dorothy and Betty; two sons, Chester and wife Beverly and Harvey. Six grandchildren, his mother, Susie Pankratz, two sisters, Mrs. Magdalena Zacharias and Mrs. Ida Goucher, and one brother, Leonard and wife Pauline, are also among the survivors.

Funeral services were conducted Saturday afternoon, June 6, at the Grace Mennonite Church of Albany, Ore., by Rev. Myron Hilty of Bellingham, Wash. and Pastor P. B. Loewen of the Grace Mennonite Church. — Mrs. Ella Pankratz.