John Orlin Schrag (J.O.), 100, died Oct. 15, 2014, at Kidron Bethel in North Newton.
The
middle child in a family of seven, he was born on the family farm three
miles west and four miles north of Moundridge, April 30, 1914, to Adina
Pearl (Kaufman) Schrag and Jacob D. Schrag. From childhood to
the beginning of high school, he attended the Hoffungsfeld (Hopefield)
Mennonite Church where he was baptized by Rev. Neuenschwander in 1931.
About the same year, he and his family joined the Eden Mennonite Church
in Moundridge. He transferred his membership two more times, first to
the McPherson Mennonite Church, and after retirement to the Bethel
College Mennonite Church in North Newton.
J.O. attended Pioneer
School, a one-room school a half-mile from the family homestead. There
he liked history and most courses except math and spelling. He said he
had many good
teachers,
but was prone to mention Ed Flickner, an elementary teacher, who
rewarded good learning with Hershey bars. He attended Moundridge High
School and Hesston Academy. After farming for several years to
help the family during the Depression, he enrolled at Bethel College,
where he formed friendships that lasted a lifetime. He credited Bethel
College with shaping his life. While at Bethel, he was co-captain of the
football team, admitted to Who's Who Among College Students, on the
yearbook staff, vice-president of his senior class, and in several
plays. On June 12, 1943, he
married Esther Frieda Ratzlaff, a Bethel College classmate.
After graduation from Bethel College in 1938 with a
bachelor's degree in Industrial Arts, he taught high school and coached
at Macksville, Burlington, McPherson and Hillsboro High Schools in
Kansas. He then entered Kansas City-Western Dental School (now the
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry), from which he
graduated at the top of his class. He practiced one year in Macksville
before moving to McPherson, where he practiced for over 30 years with
two years in alternative service in Aibonito and Pugillas, Puerto Rico.
John
was actively involved in the community. He was on the Bethel College
Board of Directors and served as board chair, Church Congregational
Chair at Eden and McPherson, President of Mennonite Men of the General
Conference, a life member of the American Dental Association, elected to
Omicron Kappa Upsilon, a member of the Peace and Justice Commission of
the Western District Conference, and chair of the Knife and Fork Club.
In
retirement, he and Esther served in voluntary service on three Native
American reservations. As a member of the Silver Haired Legislature, he
wrote several pieces of legislation that became law. He enjoyed
traveling to many locations in the United States, Europe, Central and
South America. Trips often were combined with attending church
conferences, Elderhostels, or visiting family. He became involved in the
fine arts by painting, ceramics, silversmithing, wood carving and
writing poems, children's books and short narratives. Also, he was an
avid sports fan with his favorite sport being baseball.
John & Esther's two
daughters (Sandra Zerger and Rebecca Fretz) survive him. Family
was very important to John. His youngest sibling, Milo E. Schrag and
wife, Anne Zerger Schrag, and a sister-in-law, Dorothy Witter Schrag
(widow of Martin H. Schrag) are the only survivors of his siblings.
Other siblings include: Melinda (Mrs. Martin M. Goering), Alvin (and
wife, Marie Goering Schrag), Clarence (and wife, Leona Goering Schrag),
and Marie (and husband, Waldo Wedel and later Arnold Wedel). In-laws
(all deceased) were Ruie Ratzlaff (Henry) Becker, Walter Ratzlaff
(Alice), Sadie Ratzlaff Harms (Edwin), Paul Ratzlaff, Kathryn Ratzlaff
Blair (Milford). Sons-in-law are John D. Zerger and Thomas H. Fretz.
Grandchildren
include: Jonathan Zerger (Heather Esau), Mark Fretz (Wibke Wojanowski),
Brian Zerger (Kristin Bohnenblust), and Amy Kristine Fretz (deceased).
Great-grandchildren are Piet Fretz, Til Fretz, Justin Zerger, Addison
Zerger, Allison Zerger and Madelyn Zerger. In addition, he leaves behind
cousins and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation
will be Friday, Oct. 17, 5 to 9 p.m. in the Petersen Funeral Home, with
the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m. A graveside service will be held
in Greenwood Cemetery in Newton at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. A
memorial service will be at the Bethel College Chapel in the
Administration Building at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19. Memorials may be
designated to the Helping Hands Fund at Bethel College.
