View source for Dueck, Sara Kroeker (1871-1951)

  [[File:DueckSaraKroeker.jpg|300px|thumb|right|'''']]    Sara Kroeker Dueck, Mennonite pioneer and [[Bishop|bishop’s]] (Ältester’s) wife, was born on 23 February 1871 in the village of Steinbach, Borosenko Colony, South Russia. She was the youngest of three surviving children born to Franz M. Kroeker (1827-1905) and Margaretha L. Plett (1842-1920). In 1874 at the age of three Sara immigrated to Canada with her family. They settled in the village of Steinbach, Manitoba where Sara grew up and attended elementary school. After being baptized into the membership of the [[Kleine Gemeinde|Kleine Gemeinde]], Sara married [[Dueck, Peter R. (1862-1919)|Peter R. Dueck (1862-1919)]] in 1888. They had 12 children together of which 10 survived to adulthood. 

Though small in stature Sara was a courageous woman capable of taking on the hard work required of pioneering in western Canada. Being married to an Ältester added to her responsibilities as his duties frequently called him away from home. In 1919 Sara’s husband died and less then a year later she also lost her mother. Despite such hardships Sara persevered. She raised her children on her own, teaching them to be hardworking, orderly and hospitable. She also sought to nurture their faith through reading the [[Bible  |Bible]], prayer and personal example. Sara continued farming with the help of her family until retiring in 1931. In 1948 Sara moved to [[Mexico|Mexico]] with four of her married daughters and their families where she lived until her death on 10 February 1951. The legacy of her example was an inspiration.


= Bibliography =
Dueck, Cornelius P. "Sara Kroeker Dueck (1871-1951)." <em class="gameo_bibliography">Preservings </em>No. 10 Part I (June 1997): 83-84.


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