Schroeder, Justina Regier (1890-1980)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1980 Jan 10 p. 8

Birth date: 1890 Jun 30

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1980 Mar 13 p. 11

text of obituary:

JUSTINA SCHROEDER

Justina Regier Schroeder was born to Heinrich and Elizabeth Gaeddert Regier on June 13, 1890. She received her public school training in the Paris School District west of Moundridge. She was baptized and became a member of the Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church near Inman.

Her father died in her early childhood, leaving the farming to the three oldest girls and two younger brothers. However, her mother wanted the children to receive a higher education and she attended the Bethel College Academy for two years. This was one of the highlights in her life, and she never gave up her devotion to Bethel.

She was married to Jacob H. Schroeder, a widower, on Nov. 25, 1925, and joined him on a farm in McPherson County. How vivid a picture of dad carrying her over the threshold with eight children waiting to call her “mother”. She always treated her stepchildren as her own. A daughter, Marlene, and a son, Alden, were born to their union.

She became a member of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church where she served as a Sunday School teacher for many years. After the children were grown they moved to a new home in Goessel in 1952, but her husband died just one year later.

She moved to the Bethesda Home in 1974, where she continued her great interest in mission societies, attending when sh could. Reading and needlework became pasttimes [sic] for her. She entered Bethesda Hospital on Jan. 2, 1980 and died four days later at the age of 89.

She is survived by one daughter, Marlene (Mrs. Lloyd) Schroeder of Newton; a son, Alden of Canton; seven step-children, Alice (Mrs. Roland) Pankratz of Newton, Margaret (Mrs. Fred) Riesen of Wichita, Sarah (Mrs. Albert) Wunderlich of Marion, Edward of Hillsboro, Edna (Mrs. Pete) Nickel of Newton, Esther (Mrs. Isaac) Ratzlaff of Hesston, and Evelyn (Mrs. Richard) Banman of Hillsboro; one daughter-in-law, Marie (Mrs. Sam) Schroeder of McPherson; 35 grandchildren, 59 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Preceding her in death were one step-son, one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law, four grandchildren and all her brothers and sisters.