PONTOW, Wilhelmina (Mrs. Fred Zanders)

PONTOW, ZANDERS, ROBINSON

Posted By: Torrey Copfer (email)
Date: 3/23/2010 at 11:23:10

Malvern Leader
Dec. 25, 1919

Death of Mrs. Fred Zanders
Mrs. Fred Zanders, one of the best known and most beloved ladies of this vicinity passed away at her home on Prospect Avenue Saturday night, December 20, at about eleven o'clock after a brief illness. She was taken sick about 9:30 that evening after retiring apparently in her usual health and lived but a little more than an hour although everything possible was done to relieve her. She had not been in good health for some time past but had b een about as usual this winter up to the time of her passing.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the Methodist church of which she had been a life long member and were conducted by her pastor, Rev. M.A. Gable. A special choir, Messrs. R.W. Criswell and J.R. McClymond, Mrs. F.R. Chantry and Miss Gladys Slater with Mrs. J.W. Baer as pianist sang. The pall bearers were Messrs. S.M. Norton, W.P. Wortman, Harry Landis, L.W. Miller, J.C. Slothowere and W.F. Donner. The remains were laid to rest in the Malvern cemetery.
The following obituary was read at the services:
Wilhelminia Pontow was born in Shanlonke, Germany, July 23, 1838, and when a young woman of 19 came to America with friends and located at Lacon, Ill. Here she was married to Fred Zanders, November 30, 1860 and with whom she lived over fifty years, brother Zanders having gone to his reward a year ago last May.
Mr. and Mrs. Zanders came to this city in 1870 and with the exception of a few years from 74 to 82 when they again moved to the farm, they have been of our most highly respected residents.
As these good people had no children of their own they shared their home with three children whom they adopted. One of these, Anna, died some years ago, but Mr. Will Zanders and Mrs. Mable Robinson are today mourning the loss of a true mother.
Mrs. Zanders joined the Methodist Church soon after coming to this county and has ever been devoted to the bests interests of the church and community.
In the home sister Zanders was a true mother in Israel happy, cheerful and hospitable in the extreme. She loved her Lord and gave constant evidence to the strong faith which dominated and controlled her life.
It was always her wish often expressed that she might not suffer a long illness when it was her time to go and God was good to her and answered her prayer, for retiring at her accustomed time and in her usual health, before midnight her spirit had taken its flight. We will miss her gentle spirit and kindly smile but we would not wish her back again for she has met her Lord and loved ones in a better world.