RATZLAFF Anna

1914 ~ 2013
Isaiah 49:23 ~
“Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”
MRS. ANNA SCHMIDT-RATZLAFF passed away at the Coaldale Health Centre on Friday, April 12, 2013 at the age of 98 years old.
Anna was born August 10, 1914 in Sady, Poland to Michael and Ottilie Prochnau (nee Mayert). She was the fifth child amongst four brothers and three sisters. Her parents made sure that each child learned to play an instrument and Anna played the guitar. Her family enjoyed music and because of this love a string orchestra was formed and at age fifteen Anna began singing in a Sunday School choir. At eighteen years of age, she accepted the Lord as her Saviour and shortly thereafter was baptized and became a member of the Mennonite Brethren Church in Deutsches Wymyschle, Poland. On November 12, 1932 Anna married Willy Schmidt, whom she grew up with in the same village. Seven years after their wedding day Willy began service as a Health Care worker during the war. Anna was filled with much heartache and fear not knowing when and if Willy would return to her. Thankfully, Willy did return only to live under harsh, post war conditions for four years until MEC and the Red Cross helped them escape to Germany just before Christmas in 1948. In 1949, subsequent to their escape from Poland, Anna and Willy immigrated to Canada, a trip that lasted twelve days on a boat and three days on a train before finally arriving in Bassano, Alberta. On May 21, 1950 they moved to Coaldale and worked as farm laborers in the sugar beets. Soon after, Willy began building houses as an occupation and then they built their own home. The local Mennonite Brethren Church accepted them and they were blessed with many long lasting friends..
On August 18, 1974 Anna’s dear husband, Willy went to be with the Lord. They had been married for 42 years; they had one daughter Emma (Ranhold) and another adopted daughter Helen (Richard) and 6 grandchildren. With the Lord by her side, she was able to cope and move on with her life. On September 2, 1983, Anna married her second husband, Erhard Ratzlaff. She now had three more children Hedy (Richard) Bartel, Walter, Dorothy (Alvin) Balzer; seven grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren. They moved to Clearbrook, BC where Anna had many new blessings from her family and the church. On June 23, 1991 the Lord called Erhard home.
God be with you all, until we meet in heaven.
Friends and family are welcome to pay their respects from 9:30am – 10:30am on Monday, April 22, 2013 at the COALDALE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH | 2114 18th Street, Coaldale. A Funeral Service will follow at 10:30am at the COALDALE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH, with Pastor Lorne Willms officiating. Interment to follow in the Coaldale Cemetery Mennonite section.
Send condolences at www.mbfunerals.com.
Martin Bros. Funeral Chapels Ltd.
610 – 4 Street South
Lethbridge, AB T1J 4P3
Phone: (403)328-2361 Fax: (403)382-3623
Toll Free: 1-800-382-2901
www.mbfunerals.com