Schlichting, Agnes Grunau Goertzen (1879-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Jan 3 p. 1

Birth date: 1879 Mar 4

text of obituary:

KILLED WHILE CROSSING STREET TO ATTEND CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

Corn, Okla. — Word was received here by Dr. and Mrs. F. C. Schlichting that Mrs. J.M. Schlichting of Fresno, Calif. was instantly killed Christmas eve when struck by a car as she crossed the street to attend the Christmas program at the Fresno M. B. Church. The Schlichting home is near the church.

Funeral services were to be held at the Fresno church Friday forenoon, Dec. 28.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Jan 10 p. 5

text of obituary:

Funeral Services Widely Attended

Fresno, Calif. — Funeral services for Mrs. Agnes Schlichting, 77, who was instantly killed when struck by car in front of the M. B. church here Christmas eve, were held Dec. 28and were widely attended.

Born in Russia, Mrs. Schlichting had been a resident here since 1937 and was a naturalized citizen. She is survived by her husband, Rev. John M. Schlichting; two sons, John H. Goertzen of Fresno and Henry Goertzen of Wichita, Kan.; three daughters, Mrs. John C. Kliewer, Mrs. J. P. Freisen [sic Friesen] and Mrs. I. H. Regier, all of Fresno; and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Schlichting was crossing the street to join four of her children, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren at a Christmas eve service when the tragic accident occurred. Her husband had remained at home due to illness.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Mar 14 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. AGNES SCHLICHTING

Agnes Grunau Schlichting, daughter of Rev. Cornelius and Katherine Grunau, was born March 4, 1878, in the village of Rosengart in South Russia, and went to be with the Lord on Dec. 24, 1956, at the age of 77 years, 10 months and 20 days.

When she was 13 years of age her parents migrated to America and settled at Cooper, Okla. At the age of 15 she received Christ as her Saviour. She was baptized by her father on April 7, 1895, and received into the Mennonite Brethren Church of which she remained a faithful member till the day of her departure.

On July 18, 1897, she was united in marriage to Henry Goertzen and they made their home at Enid, Okla. To this union were born seven children, three sons and four daughters. One son and one daughter died in infancy. In 1901 they moved to Henderson, Neb. and from there to Hepburn, Sask. in 1918, then back to Henderson, Neb. in 1921 and again to Enid, Okla. in 1936.

In Enid, on May 17, 1937, her husband died after a short illness. Of the following time of loneliness she dais, "The Lord led me through difficult ways but He also stood by me faithfully." During her time of widowhood of about seven years she made her home with her daughter Nettie. In the fall of 1937 she moved with her daughter, Mrs. John C. Kliewer (Nettie) and family from Hepburn, Sask. to Fresno, Calif. where she made her home for six years. Here she became a charter member of the Fresno Mennonite Brethren church in 1942.

Later she made her home at Reedley, California, and Minneola, Kansas for a few years. March 11, 1949 she was united in marriage with Rev. John M. Schlichting after which they made their home in Fresno within easy walking distance of the church. It was there that she met her death on her way to the Christmas Eve service in the church, when she was struck by a car and died instantly.

Mother took great interest in the work of the Lord. Her last husband being a minister in the church, she faithfully assisted him in his work. Her special mission interest was thte [sic] Fresno Rescue Mission. When possible she was always in her place in church and Sunday school. In her own quiet way, deep in her faith in God, devout in her prayer life for her children and their families and fervent in her devotions, she guided her family with loving concern and care. Her Christian life of concern for her children will be greatly missed. Mother always appreciated her many friends both young and old.

She leaves to mourn her sudden passing her husband, Rev. John M. Schlichting; two sons, Henry H. Goertzen of Wichita, Kansas and John H. Goertzen of Fresno, and three daughters, Nettie, Mrs. John C. Kliewer, Tena, Mrs. Jake P. Friesen and Annie, Mrs. I. H. Regier, all of Fresno; three sons-in-law and two daughters-in-law; 13 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and a number of step-children; three brothers and four sisters, C. C. Grunau, Mrs. D. D. Koop, Mrs. Sarah Hendricks and Mrs. J. J. Koop, all of Enid, Okla., Rev. J. C. Grunau of Hillsboro, Kansas, and Mrs. John C. Heinrichs of Fresno; and a large number of relatives and friends.

We mourn her departure but we have the glorious assurance that we will meet again at the great Resurrection Morning. It is evident where her hope lay by the words written in her dairy [sic]: "He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater: He giveth more strength when the labors increase: To added afflictions He added His mercy: To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace." — The Bereaved Husband, Children and Family.