Schrag, Martin H. (1919-2002)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2002 July 22 p. 5

Birth date: 1919 Sep 13

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2002 Jul 22 p. 6

Messiah professor, noted peace advocate, dies at 82

GRANTHAM, Pa. — Martin H. Schrag, 82, of Grantham, a well-known peace and justice advocate and professor emeritus at Messiah College, died July 12 after a battle with cancer.

Born Sept. 13, 1919, at Moundridge, Kan., the son of Jacob and Adina Schrag, he was a professor and department head in the religion department at Messiah for 30 years. Influential in peace and social justice advocacy, he authored several books and articles and was an authority on the history of the Swiss-Volhynian Mennonites who settled in Kansas and South Dakota.

Schrag earned a bachelor's degree in history from Bethel College at North Newton, Kan., a master's in divinity from Mennonite Biblical Seminary, then in Chicago, and a master's in theology from Eastern Baptist University at St. Davids, Pa. He earned a doctorate in church history from Temple University in Philadelphia. Schrag also studied at Princeton, the University of Pittsburgh and Notre Dame.

During World War II, he served in Civilian Public Service camps for four years. After the war, Schrag served in India and Indonesia with Mennonite Central committee as leader of relief work. An ordained minister, he served pastorates in Iowa, Kansas, Indiana and Pennsylvania and was active in the national Association of Evangelicals.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Dorothy A. Witter Schrag; a daughter, Lisa Sechrist of Wellsville, Pa.; three brothers, Clarence, John and Milo Schrag, all of Kansas; a sister, Marie Wedel of Kansas; three grandsons and two great-granddaughters.

A memorial service was held July 17 at Messiah College with burial in Grantham Memorial Park.