KNAZS, Anna (1909-1989)

KNAZS, KOOPMAN, CASPER

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society
Date: 9/26/2022 at 14:39:18

Anna Knazs
1909-1989

Services for Anna Knazs, 79, who died Friday, Feb. 17, 1989 at the Riverview Hospital in Gonzales, LA, were held Tuesday, Feb. 21, 10:30 a.m. at the Church of the Nazarene in Britt with Rev. Laurel Matson officiating.

Music was provided by organist, Beverly Myers, and soloists, Brenda Smith and Bruce Halverson.

Casket bearers were Bruce Halverson, Duane Logeman, Myrlen Olson, Jack Powers, Jim Mattax and Lyle Myers.

Burial was at the Crystal Township Cemetery in Crystal Lake with Ewing Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Anna Knazs, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Koopmen, was born October 9, 1909 in Latvia. Her parents died at an early age, leaving her to work for dairies in the area. When Russia invaded Latvia, she fled on foot into Germany. Upon entering Germany, she was put in a displaced persons camp. It was there she met and married her husband, Peter Knazs.

In 1951, on a USA sponsorship program, directed by the Lutheran Church, the Knazs family arrived by ship, The USA, in America. After landing at Ellis Island, the family traveled by train to Britt where they were met by the Alvin Matson family of Crystal Lake. The Matson Farm, just southeast of Crystal Lake became the home for the Knazs.

December 9, 1953, Peter Knazs passed away. In 1965, Anna and her children became citizens of the United States. Anna continued on the farm keeping and milking the cows and helping with the farm work until she retired in 1969 due to illness. At that time she moved to a farm east of Britt to live with her daughter Maruta Casper and family. In 1984, she moved with the family to Prarieville, LA.

She was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Britt, and later joined the Highland Park Church of God.

She is survived by a son, John and his wife, Betty of Prarieville; and a daughter, Maruta Casper and her husband, Paul, also of Prarieville, LA; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

source: Leader & Signal, Garner, Iowa, 1 Mar 1989, section 2, page 7, column 1