Sawatzky, Mary Reimer (1892-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Aug 14 p. 8

Birth date: 1892 May 25

text of obituary:

MRS. J. R. SAWATZKY

Funeral services for Mrs. J. R. Sawatzky, who passed away Sunday, July 20, 1958, at 3:25 a. m. at the Eventide Home of Mountain Lake, Minn., were held Wednesday, July 23, at 1:15 at the Johnson Chapel in Mt. Lake and 2:00 o'clock at the First Mennonite Church north of Butterfield. Rev. George Hoffman officiated.

Special music was furnished by a mixed quartet, Mrs. j. W. Sawatzky, Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Harder and E. E. Stoesz. Mrs. Elmer Sawatzky was the pianist. Interment was made in the church cemetery.

Mary Reimer was born May 25, 1892, to Jacob and Aganetha Reimer of Butterfield, Minn. Her father passed away in 1893 when she was a child of 10 months, and her mother passed away in 1923.

She received her primary education in the country school and German Bible school north of Butterfield. She received her religious training and was baptized into the Christian faith by Elder Jacob Stoesz on May 12, 1913, at the First Mennonite Church of Mt. Lake. She was converted and accepted the Lord as her personal Savior under the ministry of Rev. Peter Reimer.

On July 8, 1915, she was united in marriage to Jacob R. Sawatzky of St. James, Minn. and they shared life's joys and sorrows for 43 years. After her marriage she transferred her membership to the First Mennonite Church north of Butterfield of which she remained a faithful member.

Our wife and mother enjoyed reasonably good health until May 29, 1956, when she suffered a stroke which paralyzed her left side and from which she never fully recovered. She was hospitalized several times in the past two years and on June 12, 1958, she was admitted to the Eventide Home in Mt. Lake where she was lovingly and tenderly cared for until she passed to her eternal home.

Her last words, “I am ready and I am waiting,” give testimony of her faith to the end. though we mourn her passing we have the assurance she has gone to be with the Lord. During her suffering and trials she never complained but loving and patiently bore her burdens to the end.

As a wife and mother her uppermost concern was the spiritual and physical welfare of her family. She took much pleasure in bringing cheer to the shut-ins and visiting her many friends.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Albert and Samuel, who died in infancy, also her parents, two brothers and two sisters.

Mourning her departure are her husband, J. R. Sawatzky, six children, Ethel, Mrs. Reinhart Steinle of Butterfield, Erwin of Milwaukee, Wisc., Harry, living at home, Donald, Catherine, Mrs. Kenneth Olson, and Jacob Jr., all of St. James, Minn.; three daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law; 17 grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Peter Funk of Wolf Point, Mont.; one brother, John Reimer of Carrot River, Sask., and many other relatives and friends.