Unruh, Maria Unrau (1862-1954)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Nov 25 p. 6

Birth date: 1862 Apr 22

text of obituary:

. . .

— Funeral services for Mrs. Peter (Maria) Unruh, 92, were held Monday afternoon at the Alexanderwohl church near Goessel. Mrs. Unruh died Friday, Nov. 19, at the Bethesda Home in Goessel after a brief illness. The services were in charge of Rev. P. A. Wedel, assisted at the graveside by Rev. G. S. Stoneback of Wichita. Mrs. Unruh, a pioneer immigrant from Russia, is survived by her children, Mr. and Mrs. P. P. Unruh of Goessel and Mrs. Harry Stewart of Topeka.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Dec 16 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. PETER UNRUH

Mrs. Peter Unruh (nee Maria Unrau), daughter of Rev. Peter Unrau, was born April 22, 1862 in Friedensruh, South Russia, and passed away suddenly on Nov. 19, 1954, at 3:30 p.m.

In 1877 she emigrated with her parents to North America and settled in Marion county, near Goessel, Kansas, where she lived all her life.

In 1880 she was baptized upon the confession of her faith by Elder Jacob Buller and received into the Alexanderwohl church where she remained a faithful member to the end.

In 1881, May 12, she was married to our father, Peter Unruh. In this union they shared joy and sorrow for 47 years. She enjoyed good health all her life except the last three years when she began to fail, but she still took an interest in all activities around her, and was especially concerned about her immediate family.

After father’s death, she and Mary lived together either on the farm or in Goessel. After Mary’s death, she spent over a year with Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stewart at Welda. She enjoyed her stay there very much, but had a desire to come back to her old friends and relatives in her own community.

On Oct. 4, 1943, she entered the Bethesda Home where she spent the rest of her life. She appreciated everything that was done for her and enjoyed all the visits paid her.

She was deeply concerned for two grandchilrhen [sic], Hilda and Eldon Woelk, when their mother, Anna, passed away. Likewise was she concerned for her grandson, Dr. Harold Voth, when his mother, Margaret, passed away. Mother and Mary cared for Harold and his father for over a year while residing in Walton. Also after her sister, Mrs. B. B. Wedel, passed away and left a daughter Ida motherless, our mother took it upon herself to provide all the motherly care she could, and Ida stayed with us for almost two years. She dearly loved children. Mother was quiet and uncomplaining.

She passed away suddenly at the Bethesda Home, reaching the age of 92 years, six months and 28 days.

She was the mother of seven children, six daughters and one son, of whom five daughters preceded her in death, Helen and Elisabeth in infancy. She had nine grandchildren, four of whom passed away in infancy, and also five step-grandchildren, of whom one passed away.

She leaves to mourn her sudden death one son, P. P. Unruh and wife Bertha, one daughter, Mrs. Stewart, two sons-in-law, Dr. Albert C. Voth, and H. A. Woelk and wife Lizzie, five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. C. C. Wedel, two brothers, J. B. Unrau and H. B. Unrau, one sister-in-law, Mrs. W. B. Unrau, and one brother-in-law, B. B. Wedel, and many relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted at the Alexanderwohl church on Monday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m., Rev. P. A. Wedel officiating.