Schrag, Louise Stark (1884-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Jan 12 p. 1

Birth date: 1884 Feb 15

text of obituary:

FORMER MISSIONARY TO CHINA CALLED BY DEATH AT FREEMAN, S. D.

Freeman, S.D. — Funeral services were held at the Salem Zion Mennonite Church here Jan. 5 for Mrs. J. J. (Louise) Schrag, former missionary to China, who died at the local hospital after suffering a stroke of paralysis. She was found unconscious in her room at the Miller hotel here Jan. 2 and died two days later.

Mrs. Schrag spent 39 years on the China field. Her husband passed away in Jerusalem in 1930 when they were en route home for furlough, and the body was returned here for burial. His wife later returned to China and was interned there by the Japanese during the recent war.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Jan 26 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. LOUIS [sic LOUISE] SCHRAG

Louis [sic Louise] Stark Schrag, daughter of Carl and Pauline Streit Stark, was born Feb. 15, 1884, in Detroit, Mich.

From her 14th year on she partially supported herself by being employed in various capacities, including that of a practical nurse. She attended Bible school in Cleveland, Ohio, and also worked in the city mission there, where she met Jonathan Schrag, to whom she was married Sept. 15, 1908. they shared both blessings and trials for 21 years, six months, and 26 days.

Both being dedicated to mission work, they sailed for China on Nov. 10, 1908. they served there with Missionary h. C. Bartel for 21 years, two of which were spent at home on furlough.

Coming home for their second furlough, they planned to visit mission stations in India, travel through the Holy Land, Egypt, and Europe. Due to an illness Jonathan developed, their departure for home was delayed, but after he became better they left China in February, 1930. However he became ill again in India, and by the time they came to Jerusalem he was hospitalized with abscess of the brain and spinal meningitis. April 11, 1930, the Lord called him home, leaving Louise grief-stricken and far away from home and friends. Lena Gerber, fellow missionary who had been traveling with them, was her solace and help during those dark hours on the journey home. Jonathan was buried at Freeman, S. D. June 15, 1930.

After spending two and one-half years in the homeland, Louise left for China again, feeling compelled to continue on in the work to which she was called and which she loved. There she stayed for about 19 years, the first nine of which she enjoyed liberty in serving the Lord. After Pearl Harbor she was restricted by the Japanese until the end of the war in 1945. These years were a time of severe trials and privations, being almost entirely cut off from family, friends, and Chinese Christians.

In 1947 she was again permitted to enter the interior but work was made increasingly more difficult by the Chinese Communists, so that by 1951 she was forced to give up the work and leave the country, arriving in the States in July.

After a period of visiting in the homes of relatives, she established her home in an apartment at the Miller Hotel in Freeman.

She suffered a very light stroke during her internment in China, and a second one June 14, 1955, in Freeman, from which she recovered, allowing her to live a near-normal life. After a full and satisfying day of attending church in the morning, visiting sick in the afternoon, and visiting with friends in her room during the evening, she was again stricken Monday morning, Jan. 2, which attack left her paralyzed. Tuesday she slipped into a coma from which she never roused, and went to be with her Lord Wednesday noon, Jan. 4, 1956. She attained the age of 71 years, 10 months and 20 days.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Jonathan, her mother and father, her mother-in-law and father-in-law, six sisters-in-law, and six brothers-in-law. Mourning her death are three sisters, Anna, Bertha, and Tillie; one brother, Carl; two brothers-in-law, Charles Mann and Wm. O'Neill; and six sisters-in-law, four brothers-in-law and a host of nieces and nephews, friends and Chinese brothers and sisters in Christ.

Funeral services were conducted at the Salem Zion Mennonite Church of Marion, S. D., Rev. Russell Mast officiating. Burial was made in the church cemetery. — The Families of Louise and Jonathan Schrag.