Strsuss, Nettie Loewen (1900-2000)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 2000 Jun 9 p 28

Birth date: 1900 Aug 6

Text of obituary:

NETTIE STRAUSS

Nettie Strauss of Saskatoon passed away Apr. 13. She was born Aug. 6, 1900 to Henry and Mary Loewen near Parker, S.D. In 1902 the family homesteaded near Hepburn, Sask. After a short stay in Kansas, they moved to a farm near Waldheim, Sask. She had warm memories of school all her life. She had great respect for education and encouraged her children to finish school at a time when it was uncommon. At 16, she accepted Christ, was baptized and joined Hepburn MB Church, She nurtured the beliefs she had formed in her early years and loved the prayers, hymns and fellowship of other Christians. She sang the German hymns of her childhood even in the last week of her life. She trained at Saskatoon Normal School. She taught at Richmond School near Mennon, Sask., then Lakeburg and Hepburn Schools. At Hepburn she met and married Fred Strauss. They built a home on land he had homesteaded, Their first child, Alvin, died at 10 months. Five other children were born. They moved to Hepburn to be near the school. After the children were grown, they built a new home on the farm and worked together until Fred was 86 and she was 79. They then retired to Hepburn. Fred died a year later. At 90, she moved to a condo at Circle Drive Place, Saskatoon, where she enjoyed activities and friends, She spent her last 2 years in Circle Drive Special Care Home. She is remembered as a wife who loved and supported her husband, a mother who inspired her children by living the values she taught, as a grandmother who was a fun-loving playmate, and as a great-grandmother who was an avid listener. Predeceased by Fred, sons Alvin and Erwin and all 3 siblings, she is mourned by children Evelyn Schmidt of Fresno, Calif., Arlene Peters of Shafter, Calif., Gil of Kelowna, B,C. and Dennis of Saskatoon; 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, The funeral was Apr. 20 in Hepburn MB Church, with Ross Penner ministering.