Regier, Anna Unruh (1855-1950)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Jun 1 p. 6

Birth date: 1855 Jan 15

text of obituary:

MRS. JOHN K. REGIER

Mrs. John K. Regier, nee Anna Unruh, daughter of Peter and Sara Schroeder Unruh, was born January 15, 1855, in the village Nikolaidorf in South Russia. For seven years she attended the village school, having two teachers, whose names were Jacob Toews and Dietrich Walde.

In the early years of youth she was taken to church by her parents, where she was taught the need for repentance and conversion. At the age of seventeen she was baptized upon the confession of her faith by the Elder Jacob Buller and received into the fellowship of the Alexanderwohl church in Russia on the day of Pentecost, 1872.

In the large migration of 1874, she came with her parents to America, where in fellowship with them she helped to build and learned to love their home in a new and strange land not far from the present site of Goessel, Kansas.

On February 20, 1879 she was united in marriage with John K. Regier. They made their home on an eighty acre farm 18 miles east of her parental home. After a few years they bought a larger farm seven miles east of Buhler, Kansas, where they lived and labored till the time of their retirement. In 1916 they retired and made their home in Buhler, where the loving Heavenly Father granted them the privilege of sharing life's joys and sorrows for another 13 years. In January 1929 they celebrated their 50th anniversary of married life. Only five months later her husband was called to his final reward.

On September 14, 1893 she and her husband united with the fellowship of the Hoffnungsau Mennonite church near Inman, Kansas. When they moved to Buhler they transferred their membership to the Buhler Mennonite church which was then a branch of the mother church of Hoffnungsau. In this church she remained faithful and active member until the time of her departure. She was preceded in death by four children, who died in infancy, her husband in 1929, and her son, John U., in 1947.

The departed loved the Bible, held it in high regard, and read it herself in spite of her ripe old age until a day or so before her end. She had a rich memory treasure of religious poetry, hymns, and Scripture verses, and was able to recite them at great length for others and her own inspiration and strength in times of need. For many years she was a Sunday school teacher, and was active in the sewing society and other phases of church life. In the more active years of her life she found great satisfaction in helping others, and was called into many homes in times of sickness and need.

The gracious Father in Heaven, who has seen fit to grant her a long life of 95 years, 4 months, and 7 days, called her to her eternal Home of blessedness and joy in the early hour of Monday, May 22, 1950. Her last word spoken on earth was in response to consoling Scripture verses by members of her family, to which she replied in German, “Froh, froh, froh,” having the English connotation of joy and gladness in anticipation of seeing her Lord and Saviour whom she humbly endeavored to serve throughout the days of her rich and long life.

Those who mourn her departure will long cherish her memory are three daughters, Sara and her husband P. H. Voth, Agatha and her husband Nick D. Esau; two sons, Peter K. and his wife Marie, Daniel C. and his wife Marie, a daughter-in-law Minnie, wife of John U., deceased, 21 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and numerous other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Grandmother Regier were held at 2:30 p. m., Wednesday, May 24, at the Hoffnungsau church near Inman, Kansas. Rev. J. M. Regier, Hillsboro, read the Scripture and led in the opening prayer. Rev. A. J. Dyck was in charge of the service and also preached the funeral sermon. Rev. H. T. Unruh, conducted the service at the Buhler funeral home and Rev. Henry Fransen, Buhler, led the committal service at the cemetery.

The ladies’ chorus of the Buhler Mennonite church and a men’s quartet of the Hoffnungsau church rendered special music.

The Mennonite obituary: 1950 Jun 13 p. 418