Schrag, Lizzie Krehbiel (1918-2004)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2004 May 14 p. 2

Birth date: 1918 Aug 29

Newton Kansan obituary: 2004 May 17 p. 2

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Funeral program biographical sketch

The third child of Felix J. and Katie (Goering) Krehbiel, Lizzie Krehbiel was born August 29, 1918, in McPherson County, Kansas. She died on May 13, 2004.

Lizzie grew up on a farm seven miles south of McPherson, Kansas, and attended Turkey Creek Grade School. She graduated from Moundridge High School in 1936.

In June of 1933, she was baptized upon her confession of faith in Jesus Christ by Rev. Philip A. Wedel, and she became a lifelong and active member of the Eden Mennonite Church.

On June 6, 1937, she married Richard D. Schrag. The service was held at the Eden Mennonite Church with Rev. Philip Wedel officiating. To this union were born four children, Dwayne Denee (1938), Kay Ann (1941), Joann Elizabeth (1945), and Dale Richard (1947).

The couple made their home in McPherson for two years while Richard worked as a mechanic. In 1939 they purchased that quarter-section of land seven miles south of McPherson on which Lizzie had lived as a child. There they lived and farmed until 1973, when a heart attack forced Richard to retire. Lizzie worked at various jobs to support the family income (e.g., school cook, nurse's aide, Central Kansas Hatchery employee), but her primary task and consummate achievement was as a homemaker--a devoted and faithful wife and an extraordinarily loving and compassionate mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

In 1978 Richard and Lizzie moved to Moundridge, Kansas. After Richard's death in 1992, Lizzie moved to Krehbiel Apartments at Memorial Home in Moundridge, Kansas. In March of 2003, she moved to an assisted-living apartment at Memorial Home. Sometime during the early morning hours of May 13, 2004, she suffered a massive stroke. She left this world a few hours later to rejoin her beloved husband.

Lizzie was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Schrag (1992); her sister, Ruby Krehbiel (1992); her son-in-law, Werner Fransen (2001); and her brother, Art V. Krehbiel (2002). Survivors include her brother, Reuben Krehbiel of McPherson, Kansas; three sisters, Tillie Schrag, Lillie Goering, and Ruth Beck, all of Hesston, Kansas. Her four children and their spouses: Dwayne and Sandy (Busselle) Schrag of Fort Worth, Texas; Kay Ann Fransen of Cincinnati, Ohio; Joann and John Reeves of Crestone, Coloradl; Dale and Margo (Loewen) Schrag of North Newton, Kansas. Five grandchildren: Karina Martens and husband Paul Adams of Austin, Texas; Sharon Fransen and husband Jeff Landis of Sellersville, Pennsylvania; Suzanne Marie Fransen Hitt and husband Steve Hitt of Cincinnati, Ohio; Eric and Gretchen (Gering) Schrag of Goessel, Kansas; and Elizabeth (Libby) Schrag, currently serving with Mennonite Central Committee in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Seven great-grandchildren: Kaitlin Adams, Kate and Hannah Landis; Grace and Julia Hitt; Julianna, Timothy, and Jacob Schrag.