Schmidt, Martha Koehn (1915-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Apr 3 p. 6

Birth date: 1915 Dec 15

text of obituary:

. . .

— Mrs. Simon J. Schmidt, 42, of the Walton community died early Monday at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital after being ill for more than a year. Funeral services were announced for Thursday afternoon at the Tabor Mennonite Church. Mrs. Schmidt was born near Goessel, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David C. Koehn, who survive with her husband and four children, Marjorie Ann, David Wayne, Arvid John and Ronald Gene, all of the home; a brother, Frank G. Koehn of Route 2,Newton; and one sister, Mrs. irvin Voth of Walton.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Apr 10 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. MARTHA (KOEHN) SCHMIDT

Our dear wife and mother, Martha Gladys (Koehn) Schmidt, was born on a farm near Goessel, Kansas on Dec. 15, 1915. She was called to her heavenly home at the Bethel Hospital, Newton, Kansas on March 31, 1958, reaching the age of 42 years, three months and 15 days.

Her girlhood days were spent in the Green Valley Community near Goessel, Kansas. She received her education in the Green Valley School. Having grown up in a Christian home she asked to be baptized upon the confession of her faith in Jesus Christ as her Saviour on June 4, 1933, by Elder P H. Unruh and became a member of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church.

On May 18,1938, she was united in holy matrimony with Simon J. Schmidt in the Alexanderwohl Church. Her membership was later transferred to the Tabor Mennonite church of which she remained a faithful member until her death. She was permitted to share joys and sorrows of married life for 19 years, 10 months and 12 days. She loved farm life, especially springtime, and would often sing as she worked in the house or out in the garden. These years were spent on two different farms near Walton, Kansas.

One of her life's ambitions was to become a nurse and render service in caring for the sick. After having gone to night school in preparation for this ambition it became a reality when, on Nov. 2, 1954, she began working in the Bethel Hospital, spending much time in the operation room assisting with surgery.

In 1956, during the Christmas holidays, she became ill. Her condition was diagnosed as urinic [sic uremic?] poisoning. In the last two years she was repeatedly hospitalized. On Dec. 14, 1957, she contracted yellow jaundice which added to her discomfort and suffering. After recovering from this illness she was dismissed from the hospital on Jan. 15, 1958, and again resumed her household duties. However, her health and strength soon began to fail again.

During her recent stay in the hospital she expressed repeatedly her desire to go heavenward. During these days she reviewed many spiritual experiences and spoke words of spiritual confidence to her immediate family and also to those who visited her.

In spite of the best of medical attention and care given by both doctors and nurses she was called to meet her Lord on March 31 at 12:55 a. m.

She leaves to mourn her departure: Her husband, Simon Schmidt; four children, Marjorie Ann, David Wayne, Arvid John, and Ronald Gene; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Koehn; one brother, Frank Koehn; one sister, Mrs. Irvin Voth; her mother-in-law and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs H. J. Brandt; 10 brothers and sister-in-laws [sic], Mrs. Frank Koehn, Irvin Voth, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Schmidt, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Goosen [sic Goossen]; eight step brothers and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Adolf Bartel, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Brandt, Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Fleming. Remaining and mourning her departure are also a host of relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by one sister, Mathilda, and also by her father-in-law, Abr. J. Schmidt.