Ratzlaff, Susanna Wedel (1873-1960)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Oct 27 p. 6

Birth date: 1873 May 13

text of obituary:

. . .

— Mrs. Susanna Ratzlaff, 87, resident of the Bethesda Home for eight years, died on Oct. 20 at the Bethesda Hospital in Goessel. She was born in Russia in 1873 to Mr. and Mrs. Peter Wedel and in 1895 was married to Andrew Ratzlaff. The family emigrated to the U. S. in 1907 and made their home in Hillsboro. Her husband died in 1934. She is survived by five daughters, five sons, 37 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren. Funeral services in charge of Rev. John Thiessen were held on Saturday afternoon at the Alexanderwohl church.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Dec 15 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS.SUSANNA RATZLAFF

Susanna Ratzlaff was born May 1, 1873, to Peter and Katharina Nickel Wedel in Wohlynien, South Russian, in the village Lilewa.

At the age of 15 years she realized her lost condition and accepted the Lord Jesus as her Saviour. Upon confession of her faith she was baptized by Elder Johann Schartner on Feb. 17, 1889, and was received as a member of the Mennonite church at Lilewa.

She was married to Andreas Ratzlaff on Feb. 7, 1895. They left Russia to make their home in America, arriving at Hillsboro, Kan., May 29, 1907. The family located on a farm southwest of Hillsboro.

In 1909 they joined the Alexanderwohl Mennonite church near Goessel, Kan., where she remained a faithful member until the end.

They were married for nearly 40 years, when father Andreas Ratzlaff was taken away by death Nov. 5, 1934. To this union 12 children, seven sons and five daughters, were born.

On Feb. 29, 1952, she entered the Bethesda Home, where she enjoyed the fellowship of her fellow residents. She was taken to Bethesda Hospital Oct. 5, 1960, where she passed away Thursday morning, Oct. 20, at the age of 87 years, five months and seven days. She leaves to mourn her departure five sons and five daughters, all residents of Kansas: John of Hillsboro, Albert and wife Mary of Hillsboro, Abe and wife Rachel of Monument, Jake and wife Ruth of Hillsboro, Isaac and wife Esther of Hesston, Marie and husband Pete Penner of Inman, Karoline and husband Albert Schultz of Protection, Katherine and husband Irvin Hanke of Newton, Florentine and husband John Goossen of Marion, Susie and husband Clyde Wilson of Pretty Prairie.

Also surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Nightengale of Sublette and Mrs. Agnes Schmidt of Galva; 37 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren.

Her husband, two infant sons, one grandson, Vernon Schultz and one daughter-in-law, Bertha, preceded her in death.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Home for the Aged where Rev. Erwin Nightengale was the speaker, and at the Alexanderwohl church with Rev. John Thiessen officiating. She was buried in the Alexanderwohl cemetery.