Schrag, Joseph J. (1873-1957)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Dec 5 p. 8

Birth date: 1873 Nov 30

text of obituary:

JOSEPH J. SCHRAG

Joseph J. Schrag, son of John and Fannie [sic Frenie] Schrag, was born Nov. 30, 1873, at Waldheim, Russia. He departed this life to be with his Lord and Saviour whom he dearly loved and served, on Thursday, Nov. 14, 1957. Had he lived until the 30th of this month he would have been 84 years of age.

As a young man Mr. Schrag accepted Christ and joined a Mennonite church. One of his favorite passages of Scripture was Psalm 51 and his favorite hymn was “The Love of God.”

He came to America with his parents in 1874 and settled in South Dakota. Several years later he moved to Oregon. After ten years in Oregon he came to Washington in 1899, taking up a homestead that same year in Schrag Community. In 1916 he and his family moved to Monroe where they helped organize and were charter members of the Monroe Mennonite Church. Four years ago they moved to Odessa and transferred their church affiliation to the Menno Mennonite church. Because of failing health and the distance, they attended a church nearer by, the Odessa Baptist Church.

On Nov. 6, 1907, Mr. Schrag was married to Lena Gering. They observed their 50th wedding anniversary this month. Nine children were born to this union, all of whom, with their mother, mourn the passing of their father and husband.

The children are as follows: Mrs. Ella Wilske, Odessa; Mrs. Gertrude Parke, Seattle; Mrs. Martha Hoyt, Yakima; David, Odessa; Mrs. Viola Hopson, San Diego, Calif.; Philip, Odessa; Mrs. Frances Nevitt, Seattle; Mrs. Eileen Jantz, Richland, Wash.; Mrs. Louise Connelly, Monroe, Wash. Also surviving are 21 grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Tom Kauffman [sic Tobias Kaufman], Freeman, S. D.; two [sic half-] brothers, Henry Schrag, Ritzville, and Ewalt Schrag, Monroe, Wash.

Funeral services were held at the Mennonite Church on Nov. 16 with Rev. Lester E. Janzen and Rev. Edward Kopf officiating. Mrs. Lillian Jantz served as organist and a male quartet consisting of Leslie Schrag, Ralph Gering, Curtis Gering and Joe Jantz sang — “The Love of God” and “Marvelous Grace.”