Poetker, Maria Wiens (1900-1975)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1975 May 02 p.31

Birth date: 1900 June 01

text of obituary:

(MRS.) MARIA POETKER

Maria (Wiens)Poetker was born on June 1, 1900, in Wiesenfeld, Governoment Ekaterinoslov, Russia, to Nickolai and Maria (Janzen) Wiens. She lost her father at age twelve and so received much of her training from her mother and uncles. Shortly after her father's death, the family moved to the Crimea where they farmed until their emigration to Canada in December, 1925. ~he early years in Canada were spent workmg and supporting her mother.

She accepted Christ as her personal Saviour in her youth, and upon confession of her faith was baptized at age 17 and accepted into the fellowship of the Mennonite Brethren Church in Crimea.

On January 3,1937, she was united in marriage to Jacob F. Poetker, a widower with five young children. She accepted this responsibility as from the Lord, realizing the magnitude of the task that lay before her. With devotion and much self-sacrifice, she gave herself to the children, winning their love and training them in the ways of the Lord. The Lord blessed this union with an additional five children.

She was a source of much strength and encouragement to her husband, sharing his responsibilities in the home, on the farm, and in the work of the church. The many hours she spent on her knees before God on behalf of her large family were rewarded in that she sawall her children come to know the Lord as their personal Saviour.

Since he was involved in the church as secretary and for many years as leader, many additional responsibilities fell on her shoulders . Visiting ministers were frequent guests in their home. In all of this she sought to remain in the background, hidden from public view.

Her health began to fail while she was in her mid-fifties, and from then on she was somewhat limited in her activities. Her husband's passing in 1969 was a very difficult experience for her. It created within her a strong desire for her heavenly home to be re-united with him. Her wish was granted January 28 at age 74.

She leaves to mourn five sons, Jacob, Herb and Alfred of Winnipeg, Nick of Morden, Man. and William of Lena, Man.; five daughters, Mrs. Ben (Tinie) Dueck of Vancouver, Mrs. Henry (Hedy) Funk, formerly of Brandon, now of Cali, Colombia, Mrs. Norman (Viola) Giesbrecht and Betty Poetker of Winnipeg, Mary at home, and 19 grandchildren, two brothers, Nickolai and John Wiens of Ontario; two sisters, Mrs. Abe (Aganetha) Martens of Killarney, and Mrs. Herman (Tina) Lenzmann of British Columbia, as well as many friends and relatives.

The funeral service was conducted on February 1, in the Morden Mennonite Brethren Church by Rev. Victor Neufeld and Rev. Herman Lenzmann.