Tschetter, Katharina Hofer (1880-1957)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Jan 24 p. 1

Birth date: 1880 Oct 20

text of obituary:

SERVICES HELD IN SOUTH DAKOTA FOR CHICAGO MISSIONARY

Freeman, S. D. — Funeral services were held at the Salem K. M. B. Church near Bridgewater on Jan. 15 for Mrs. Katharina Tschetter, pioneer K. M. B. missionary in the South and widow of Rev. Joseph W. Tschetter. She died Jan. 12 in Chicago where she had engaged in city mission work for a number of years.

Mrs. Tschetter, the former Katharina Hofer, and her husband were both natives of this community. In 1911 they were sent to north Carolina to engage in mission work among the Negroes, and later founded a city mission in Chicago. Rev. Tschetter died in August 1955.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Feb 7 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. KATHARINA TSCHETTER

Katharina Tschetter, daughter of Michael and Maria Hofer, was born oct. 20, 1880, on a farm near Bridgewater, S. D.

Shortly after the death of her sister Elisabeth Mendel she accepted the Lord as her personal Saviour. On Dec. 15, 1901, she was united in marriage with Joseph W. Tschetter. To this marriage one son was born, who passed away at the age of two weeks.

In 1906 she was baptized by Rev. D. D. Goosen and received into the membership of the Salem Church near Bridgewater, S. D. where she remained a faithful member until death. On Nov. 12, 1910, she and her husband were ordained into the ministry, and in October 1911 they answered the call and left for North Carolina as missionaries to the colored people.

In 1915 she and her husband moved to Chicago, Ill. and here with Rev. and Mrs. D. M. Hofer founded the Lincoln Avenue Gospel Mission at 2812 Lincoln Avenue, and the Krimmer Mennonite conference paper called "Der Wahrheitsfruend [sic Wahrheitsfreund]."

She always enjoyed working with children, teaching them choruses and having them memorize Scripture. She and her husband were associated with the Mexican mission at 620 Morgan Street in Chicago until about three years ago when her health began to fail. She always was very active, trying to do what she could in spite of her illness.

On Dec. 7, 1956, she had a light stroke and the heart condition she was struggling with became severe, which confined her to her bed. All that was possible was done for her. On Jan. 9, 1957, upon the request of the doctor she was taken to the Grant Hospital where she passed on to her heavenly reward six hours later. Death was caused by another heart attack. She reached the age of 76 years, two months and 20 days. She was preceded in death by her husband Rev. Joseph W. Tschetter on August 15,1955.

She leaves to mourn her death two foster daughters, Rosemary Schmidt of Chicago, Ill. and Dorothy Wallace, Denver, Colo.; two sons-in-law and two grand-children; two sisters, Susanna (Mrs. D. J. Mendel) of Alexandria, S. D. and Maria (Mrs. William J. Walter) of Emery, S. D.; three brothers-in-law and three sisters-in-law as well as a host of friends.

Funeral services were conducted in the Gospel Mission at 2812 Lincoln Ave. in Chicago on Sunday, Jan.13, with Rev. John S. Mendel officiating. The remains were then shipped to the Walter Funeral home in Freeman where brief services were conducted before the service at the Salem K. M. B. church near Bridgewater. Pastor J. J. Kleinsasser officiated assisted by Rev. Mendel. A quartet of nephews of the deceased sang two numbers. Mrs. Jacob Glanzer presided at the organ. Interment was made in the church cemetery beside her husband.