Wedel, Eva Thomas (1868-1952)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 17 Jul 1952 p. 9

Birth date: 1868

text of obituary:

MRS. EVA THOMAS WEDEL

Mrs. Eva Thomas Wedel, daughter of Peter Thomas and Helena Unruh Thomas, was born in Poland, October 11, 1868.

As a young girl she was among those who with their parents, left their homes in search of a land where they might enjoy greater religious liberty, landing on the shores of the United States in 1874. After spending one winter in Pennsylvania, they moved to McPherson county, Kansas.

On October 28, 1883, she was baptized upon her confession of faith n the Lord Jesus and received into the Canton (now Emmanuel) Mennonite church of Galva, Kansas.

On February 7, 1886, she was united in marriage to Rev. Tobias P. Wedel, assuming the responsibility of being mother to five step-children and one foster child. To this union seven children were born. Caroline and Peter, deceased; Lena, Mrs. Carl Koehn, McPherson, Kansas; Mary, deceased; Susie, Mrs. D. J. Koehn, Galva, Kansas; Nelson Wedel, Ringwood, Oklahoma; and Daniel, deceased. Her step children are the following: Jacob, Andrew and Frank, deceased; another Frank, Los Angeles, Calif.; Eva, Mrs. David D. Schmidt, Pawnee Rock, Kansas; and Lizzie, Mrs. D. A. Smith, Ringwood, Oklahoma. One foster child, Bernhard Becker, Goltry, Oklahoma.

In 1904 Bro. and Sister Wedel moved to Oklahoma with their family, becoming members of the New Hopedale Mennonite church, of which she has been a faithful member till the end. However, they again lived in Kansas for the interval between 1907 and 1909, during which time her husband was pastor of the Emmanuel church near Galva, Kansas. Following this they again came to Oklahoma, settling on a farm north of Ringwood.

Her husband preceded her in death in 1928. The following years she stayed alone on the farm. Eight years ago, however, her condition became such that she could no longer be by herself. She then went to live with her children who have faithfully and tenderly cared for her till the end.

Though she had been nearly helpess [sic] for quite some time, her condition became noticeably worse on Thursday, June 26, and the Lord called her home on June 30, 1952, at 9:50 p.m. at the age of 83 years, eight months and 19 days.

Beside her children, step-children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, she also leaves behind 29 grandchildren, 47 great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Mary Rink, Stratford, Wisconsin; two brothers, C. P. Thomas, Cement, Oklahoma, and Ben Thomas, Meno, Oklahoma.

She will be always remembered, especially by her children, for her love for singing. She committed to memory many Gospel hymns as she went about her household duties. The Lord had blessed her with a beautiful singing voice which she has now enlisted in His angelic choir.

After a short prayer service at the home, the funeral was held in the New Hopedale Mennonite church at Meno, Oklahoma, led by the pastor, Rev. A. A. Epp, assisted by Rev. R. Toews and Rev. H. U. Schmidt.

Interment was made in the New Hopedale cemetery.