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Mennonite Genealogy with Michael Penner |
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Aganetha Penner nee Toews (1854-1928) |
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Obituary from Botschafter der Wahrheit, July 15, 1928, p. 7-8 Sister Martin Penner "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. They rest from their labor, because their deeds follow them" (Rev 14: 13). Our dear wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, born on April 12, 1854 in Prangenau, Molotschna, South Russia (parents moved later to Borsenko) stepped with me into married in 1871. In the year 1874, we came here to Manitoba, Canada, where we later created our home first in Blumenort, then in Greenland. Her illness (dropsy) was with her since Christmas and she was bedridden since the beginning of March. She became somewhat better in the meantime, but she carried a longing in her heart to go home. In the last two weeks she was again seriously ill and felt ready to be meet her Saviour and then gently fell asleep in the evening of June 26, at 9:45. She leaves me, her grieving, lonely husband, 10 children, 83 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, 3 brothers and 3 sisters. Three children and three great-grandchildren preceded her in death. She lived to the age of 74 years, 2 months and 14 days; she lived in marriage close to 57 years. On the 29th the deceased’s body was interred by the Greenland meeting house. The attendance to this last celebrations was plenteous; a thank you for the significant gesture. Written words like 1 Cor. 15:44-49 and 55-57 gave guidance to the serious sermon. Martin Penner and children. ■
Letter of Aganetha Penner nee Toews, from Blumenort, by Royden Loewen, page 55. Addressed to her sister-in-law, Mrs. Johann Janzen (nee Margaretha Penner) in Rosenort. August 12, 1875 My love for you compels me to pay you a small visit. I know that you must be very lonely and presumably you will be having many hours of sorrow. We would so like to have you in our midst! Ach! If it would only be possible for us to live close to one another so that we might encourage one another to work diligently in the Weinberg of the Lord, making sure that the Day of Judgment would not fall upon us unexpectedly, for then all will be too late. Thus, it is very necessary for us to prepare ourselves to be ready at all times, for in all things we are subject to God. We have seen this in regard to our beloved minister and brother [Rev. Jacob K. Barkman and Jacob K. Friesen drowned in the Red River in St. Boniface on June 3, 1875], who were called to give up their life so quickly and had such a short time to reflect on it. Even in our family we are witnesses of the speed with which things can happen to us; namely to our sister-in-law, Mrs. Cornelius Penner. After she gave birth to a baby boy on July 30 she became well and yesterday was remarkably stronger. [Today, however] she is very ill, lying unconscious. Presumably it is the Frauenkrankheit. Now dear sister, what more shall I write? If I could speak to you face to face I would have many questions. Are you and your beloved children still healthy and happy at home? I have once again recuperated and my husband is, as in former times, well; he is busy with the hay harvest and would like to be finished. As God wills and we live … we have heard that Peter [H.] Penners and their children arrived safely at Jacob Loewens in Kansas five weeks ago. All of them are well. There is, however, no hope that we will see them here for a while. I will end my writing now and bid you accept it in love, forgiving all errors and interpreting everything in the spirit of love. Then, good-bye, dear sister. Our very hearty greeting to you. Green everyone who remembers us. Forgive the fact that this letter was written so poorly; there was no time to recopy it. Good-bye, stay well and remember us in prayer. Martin and Aganetha Penner ■
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