Regier, Mary Wall (1859-1947)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1947 Oct 16 p. 3

Birth date: 1859 Dec 6

text of obituary:

MRS. CORNELIUS REGIER

One day last week a small baby was born in the Goessel hospital. A few rooms removed an old grandmother lay dying. The beginning and end of life, side by side. Only a few days earlier this old grandmother, our mother, was still in the Old People's Home where she had been the last two and one half years. Some of us had been called over, because she had gotten sick. We could get no response out of her, so we did what she enjoyed more than anything else on earth. We read to her from the last two chapters of the book of Revelation.

Will she respond? Is there still consciousness in her mind? "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." "Do you understand, mother?" "Yes, yes" she said. "And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." "Do I read loud enough?" "O, yes" she replied. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God and he shall be my son . . . And let him that is athirst come." And five days later she came, forever to be with him whom she had always trusted.

Our mother, Mary Wall Regier, was born in the village of Altonau, Russia, on December 6, 1859. When she was nine or ten years old the family moved to the village of Alexenderkron [sic Alexanderkrone]. She herself has written up her girlhood experiences. She quit school when 13 years of age. She was 18 years old when the family moved to America, and located 7 miles southwest of Moundridge, Kansas.

Soon the question of uniting with a church came up. She and three other young people, Abraham Martens, Jacob B. Dick, and Mrs. Jacob Lohrentz, because of their desire to be baptized, expedited the organization of the Hebron Church. Rev. Bernard Buhler baptized them. Now together with their early shepherd, all have entered the church celestial.

On February 23, 1880, she was united in marriage to our father, Cornelius Regier, whom she first met in this country. To this union 11 children were born. Of these three have preceded mother in death: August, aged 5, Mary, Mrs. John F. Moyer, aged 32, and Jacob, aged 62. Our father died in 1911. Our mother thus lived in married life 31 years and as a widow 36 years. She reached the age of 87, 9 months and 28 days. Three grandchildren and one great-grand child also preceded her in death.

Mother is survived by eight children: Margaret, Mrs. Cornelius Pankratz, Moundridge, Kans.; Cornelius, West Liberty, West Virginia; John, Hillsboro, Kansas; Herman, Syracuse, Kansas; Samuel, Moundridge, Kansas; Justina, Mrs. John P. Claassen, Omaha, Neb.; Emil, Eagle, Colo.; and Alvin, King City, California. There are also 28 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by thee sisters-in-law; Mrs. John K. Regier, Mrs. John J. Wall, and Mrs. Cornelius C. Wall.

As a family we are conscious that our best earthly friend has left us, but we are not in grief. We rejoice that the great longing of her heart has been satisfied. She has gone to be with her Lord and with many of her dear ones.

Funeral services were held on Oct. 8, at the Goessel Old People's Home. Rev. A. E. Funk was in charge. A Johannestal men's quartet sang. At the C. G. Pankratz home, Moundridge, Rev. W. F. Unruh spoke briefly and Elbert Pankratz sang. In the Hebron church, Rev. J. W. Nickel spoke and a mixed quartet sang.