Sara Janzen
Married Name:
Sara Janzen Hiebert
Born: June 4, 1916
Place: Marion County, Kansas
Died: March 18, 1974
Place: Marion County, Kansas
Buried: Alexanderwohl Mennonite Cemetery, Goessel, Kansas
MOTHER:
Sara Schroeder
FATHER:
John P. Janzen
SIBLINGS:
Otto Janzen (6/15/1913 - 6/15/1913)
Ruth Janzen
HALF-SIBLINGS:
Katharine Janzen (8/1/1890 - 8/10/1890)
Katharine Janzen (8/4/1891 - 4/15/1896)
Benjamine Janzen (11/25/1894 - 4/11/1896)
Lena Janzen
Eva Janzen
Benjamin Janzen
George Janzen
Justina Janzen
Marie Janzen
Susie Janzen (3/20/1908 - 7/7/1909)
SPOUSE:
Paul M. Hiebert
Married: April 18, 1937
Place: Tabor Mennonite Church, Goessel, Kansas
CHILDREN:
Donald Paul Hiebert
Norman Duane Hiebert
Mary Lou Hiebert
Johnnie Lee Hiebert
Bonnie Sue Hiebert
BIOGRAPHY
Written by Sara Ratzlaff
Sara’s father, John, migrated to America from Prussia. His wife died leaving John with seven children. John remarried and finally his newlywed conceived Sara. Their family was made up of so many different ethnic groups.
Soon after Sara was born, she received a playmate. Her name was Ruth. Ruth and Sara were the only two out of the whole family that came from a different mother. Since there was a big gap in ages from the rest of the children, Sara and Ruth got to know each other better than anyone else. They did everything together.
When Sara was quite young she had hidden from everyone, which created quite a panic. She hid because the country doctor was planning on making his rounds. She right away thought that she was going to get a diphtheria shot which her old sister had died from years earlier. She went into the parlor and hid behind the couch, of course not letting anyone know about this. Time went by and her family noticed that she was missing. The rest of the children and her parents looked everywhere. In the meantime, Sara had fallen asleep behind the couch. Finally she awoke and came out to find that everyone was scared stiff.
Sara’s father was a firm believer in educating his family. He packed up his whole family to go on vacation. By the time Sara was this age, their family was quite large. Many of her sisters and brothers already had children who were the same age as Sara. These trips were usually taken to Oklahoma. They had family there.
On one trip, John took just Sara, Ruth, and his wife to Oklahoma. This was a special treat for Sara and Ruth because they had never been on a train in their life. On the way to their destination, they passed through Indian Reservations. As the train passed, the Indians stood next to the tracks with their colorful blankets and their thick black braids. Sara and Ruth were very scared. Around this time, talk was still passing around that Indians were no good.
Before Sara could enter regular school, she had to go to German school. All they learned here was German. Once she passed that she went to Emmenthal School, which was about a quarter of a mile away from where she lived (1 mile away from K-15).
Around this same time (age five), Sara was given one of her greatest Christmas gifts. On Christmas morning, she came down from her room and went to the kitchen. She knew that the Christmas gifts were on the kitchen table either on or beside her plate. This year there was a brand new china doll. It was almost two feet tall with brown hair. Her sister Ruth had received the very same type of doll, so there was no need for sharing this Christmas.
Sara graduated from grade school and even got the chance to attend high school. During her freshman year, her father John died. As the saying goes, “The farm can’t run it’s self” so she was forced to drop out of school.
When Sara was about seventeen years old, she met Paul Hiebert. Although he was very handsome, he smoked. Well, she put a stop to that as soon as she could. They married on April 18, 1937. Their wedding was held in the old Tabor Mennonite Church. Paul and Sara’s wedding was the first one around these parts that had guitar music played during the service.
Sara soon had her hands full with five children; Donald Paul, Norman Duane, Mary Lou, Johnnie Lee, and Bonnie Sue. Their life would never be dull.
On a farm with five children, there are bound to be accidents. One day while Paul and Sara were elsewhere, their two oldest boys decided to climb up the silo, which was off limits. One went up and then the other. When at the top, they could see everything; everything including their parents coming down the driveway. In all the excitement and stumbling, Norm stepped on Don’s hand, therefore causing Don to let go of the ladder. Don fell all the way down to the bottom of the silo.
Many years later when Sara was hard at work, somehow her dress caught on fire. Paul was just in time to put out the fire and save her life. The back of her dress and the sleeves were melted onto her skin. Sara was rushed to the hospital right away. Sara had third degree burns all over her back, arms, and on her seat. The blisters hung on her body; they were the size of soccer balls.
Sara was so thankful and surprised that she lived through everything, although the discomfort during recovery was at the max. For years she saved the dress that she was burnt in just to show people her miracle.
On March 18, 1974 Sara died of a stroke. I, Sara Ratzlaff, wrote a poem about the event leading to my grandma’s death. This was written on March 18, 2000.
SARA
So many years ago
On this very night
It was the eve of Grandpa’s birthday
And it gave everyone a fright
The church bell rang a mournful sound
As the usher shut the door
Bewilderment ran across her face
As Grandma collapsed to the floor
Lying in the hospital bed
A decision was to be made
She must go see our father in heaven
This choice will not soon fade
Now in heaven she looks down on us
With the Lord by her side
She takes every step we take
In celebration that she died
Her memory lives in all of us
We will always remember her call
The way she loved, cared, and cherished us
The way she stood so tall
Grandma’s funeral was quite big for a person her age. Bonnie, John and Paul were the only ones left at home. Each of them would take their turn cooking. When John’s turn rolled around, the household was less than thrilled.
Soon Bonnie and Sidney Ratzlaff married in 1975. And after them, John and Bertha Voth married, leaving Grandpa alone. After everyone moved out of the house, he sold the farm. Their children divided up their share of items related to their mother, and the auctioneer was sent to draw up the bill.
Together, Sara and Paul had five children, five children-in law, twenty-four grandchildren, and thirteen great grandchildren (with two more on the way). So all in all, two plus two equals fifty-one.
25th Wedding Anniversary
NEWSPAPER OBITUARY
Mrs. Sara Hiebert, 57, Route 2, Newton died this morning at Bethesda Hospital, Goessel.
She was born June 4, 1916 at Goessel, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Janzen. On April 18, 1937, she married Paul Hiebert at Goessel and they have lived on farms near Goessel since that time.
Survivors include the widower of the home; 3 sons, Donald Paul and Norman Duane, Route 2, Newton, and John of the home; 2 daughters, Mrs. Larry (Mary Lou) Lindeman, Route 2, Moundridge, and Bonnie of the home; 1 brother, George Janzen, Hillsboro; 3 sisters, Mrs. Jake Ratzlaff, Route 2, Hillsboro, Mrs. D. D. Unruh, Hillsboro, and Mrs. Helen Schmidt, Goessel; and 6 grandchildren.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church with Rev. Ronald Krehbiel officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Calling time at the Miller Funeral Home, Goessel, will be after Tuesday noon.
