Schrag, John J. (1861-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Jun 4 p. 8, 9

Birth date: 1861 Feb 14

text of obituary:

JOHN J. SCHRAG

Our father, John J. Schrag, son of Joseph and Anna Stucky Schrag, was born on February 14, 1861, in the colony of Edwarddorf, Kries Province, Russich, Polen. He came to America with his parents in 1874, when the whole congregation came, and the family came along.

He was baptized upon the confession of his faith by Elder Jacob Stucky, and was received into the Hoffnungsfeld church as a member on April 14, 1876, at the early age of fifteen. He remained a faithful member of his church until his death.

On February 7, 1884, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Stucky, who was the daughter of Elder Jacob and Anna Stucky. Their union was blessed with eleven sons and two daughters. Three children, Anna, David and Samuel, and three grandchildren and two daughters-in-law preceded him in death.

During father's entire life he was in normal health. He spent much time in reading his Bible, and practiced the teachings of the Scriptures. He was positive in his conviction and faith in so much that he spent much time in prayer with his Lord. During the night he was often heard praying out loud, which was a challenge to our lives.

He experienced a pioneer life with his parents when they came to this country, settling first at Halstead, Kansas, where he, with his parents, operated a flour mill, and later moved nine and one-half miles southwest of Moundridge, where they operated another mill. Here our parents spent most of their married life of 46 years and three months of companionship, sharing the joys and sorrows of the pioneer life until our mother's passing on June 2, 1932. For the past few years our father has lived at a rest home in McPherson and more recently at Hutchinson, where he passed away in calm sleep to be with his Lord, on Wednesday afternoon, April 1, 1953, at the age of 92 years, one month and 14 days.

Those who are left to mourn his passing include his daughter, Marie, who is serving her Lord as missionary in India; his sons, John and Adam, and the following sons and their wives: Reinold and Marie, Joseph and Lydia, Peter and Esther, Andrew and Bertha, Jacob and Lorene, Daniel and Adina, Herman and Dorothy. Also 45 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, one brother-in-law, two sisters-in-law, and other relatives and the many friends he has made in his long residence in this community.

Services were conducted by Rev. Archie Kliewer and Rev. Philip Wedel on Saturday, April 4, 1953, at two o'clock, from the Hopefield Mennonite church. Music by the quartet consisting of J. Hobart Goering, Ervin Krehbiel, Rueben Krehbiel and Elmer Goering. Mrs. Dave T. Stucky at the piano.

His final resting place, the Hopefield cemetery.