Penner, Clara Pankratz (1900-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Auf 27 p. 6

Birth date: 1900 Dec 4

text of obituary:

— Relatives from Newton were among those attending funeral services at the First Mennonite church of Hillsboro Wednesday forenoon for Mrs. Clara Penner 52, wife of P. H. Penner of Hillsboro, who died Friday, Aug. 21, at a Pueblo, Colo. hospital. On Aug. 10 while en route home with Mr. Penner from a vacation trip, Mrs. Penner fell in front of a motel and fractured her arm. The fracture was reduced, but she became seriously ill from the anesthetic and passed away 10 days later. Besides her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Roy Unruh, and two grandchildren; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John P. Pankratz of Canton; one brother and three sisters.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Sep 3 p. 9

text of obituary:

MRS. CLARA PENNER

Clara Pankratz Penner, wife of P. H. Penner, was born to John P. and Anna Sommerfeld Pankratz on December 4, 1900, in Marion county, Kansas, and departed this fife on August 21, 1953, at Parkview Episcopal hospital, Pueblo, Colorado, due to a fall which brought about serious complications from which she did not recover in spite of the best care given her by doctors and nurses. She reached the age of 52 years, eight months, and 17 days.

She attended the grade school in Springfield District school, also the Goessel Preparatory school at Goessel, Kansas for two years. Later she attended the Bethel College academy for three years, from which she graduated in 1923. She also attended several sessions of summer school at Bethel College. She taught in various elementary schools for 13 years.

Trusting in the Lord as her Saviour she was baptized on the confession of her faith on June 23, 1918, by Elder P. H. Unruh and so became a member of the Alexanderwohl church. When the Goessel church was organized in 1920 she with her parents became a member of this church.

She was married to P. H. Penner, a member of the First Mennonite church of Hillsboro, on May 10, 1936. She transferred her membership to this church in 1938 where she was a faithful member at the time of her death. She assumed the responsibility of a mother to a four year old daughter of her husband. She was as intimately attached to Arlene as any mother could be to her very own daughter.

She had a friendly and kind-hearted disposition which won her many friends. Teaching in Sunday school and participating in other church activities gave evidence that she loved her church and that she took her spiritual life seriously.

She, with her husband, resided on a farm near Hillsboro until 1952 when they moved to Hillsboro. She was much concerned with making a comfortable home for her husband.

She leaves to mourn her early departure her husband; daughter Arlene and her husband Roy Unruh; two grand-daughters, Cynthia Marie and Marilyn Kay; her aged parents Mr. and Mrs. John P. Pankratz of rural Canton; three sisters, Hulda and Margaret of the home, and Bertha, Mrs. H. S. Lippert, of Beeler, Kansas; one brother, John H. Pankratz of rural Canton; her aged mother-in-law, Mrs. H. H. Penner of Hillsboro; eight sisters-in-law and seven brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews, and a host of relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held Wednesday forenoon, Aug. 26, at the First Mennonite church of Hillsboro, Rev. H. T. Unruh and Rev. Peter Goering officiating. Burial was made in the church cemetery.

— P. H. Penner and family.

The Mennonite obituary: 1953 Oct 13 p. 640