Reimer, Mary Bergen (1914-2002)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2002 Sep 24 p. 2

Birth date: 1914 Sep 30

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2002 Oct 14 p. 8

text of obituary:

Mary Reimer, 87, of Goessel, Kan., died Sept. 23, 2002, at Newton Medical Center. She was born Sept. 30, 1914, to John and Elizabeth Goertz Bergen in Goessel.

She attended Gordon Grade School and graduated from Goessel High School in 1933.

She was baptized upon her confession of faith and accepted as a member of Goessel Mennonite Church on May 24, 1931.

On Aug. 14, 1936, she married Milton Reimer in a double wedding ceremony with Al and Susie Schmidt, her sister.

They homesteaded their farm west of Goessel in 1936 and lived there for 60 years until they moved to a Bethesda Home duplex in Goessel.

One of her hobbies was quilting. She made beautiful blankets for her family and grandchildren. She was a wonderful cook and always had cookies, apple dumplings or cake on hand, with coffee on the stove when family stopped in. She had many interests and took an active role in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved music and enjoyed singing.

She had several health problems over the past two years, but she faced each crisis with strength, determination and a lot of faith.

Survivors include two daughters, Luana Schrag and her husband, Sam, of Pretty Prairie, and Shirley Flaming and her husband, Ed, of Durham; a sister, Susie Schmidt, and a brother, Ben Bergen, both of Goessel; seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Milton, in November 2000; by a brother, Jake Bergen; and by two sisters, Tina Schmidt and Annie Bergen.