Andreas Ratzlaff and the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church

After immigrating to Kansas, the Andreas Ratzlaff family became members and attended church at the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church near Goessel, Kansas (http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/A44239.html).  Alexanderwohl, one of the largest congregations in Kansas, traces its roots back to the Przechowka congregation in West Prussia, just as the Ratzlaff family does.  Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church is located at the southwest corner of section 33 of Menno Township, Marion County, KS.  This map of southern Menno Township from the 1921 shows the church (section 33) relative to the Andreas Ratzlaff residences (sections 24, 25).  Goessel, KS, lies one mile south of section 34, in neighboring West Branch Township.

The Alexanderwohl Church membership book lists the members of the Andreas Ratzlaff family and scans of the book can be seen here: http://mla.bethelks.edu/metadata/cong_15.php.  Notes in the churchbook are made in German.

The Andreas Ratzlaff family page in the Alexanderwohl Familien Register:

Florentine was left off this page, perhaps because she was already married by the time the information was written down.  I don't know why the double listing for Jacob and Isaac.  A double listing for Jacob may indicate recognition of the baby boy named Jacob who died when he was about 3 weeks old in Volhynia in 1895.  However, why not a similar recognition of baby Adam who also died while an infant in Volhynia?

The Andreas Ratzlaff family members in the Alexanderwohl Glieder Verzeichnis (“members’ directory”)

Andreas' listing indicates that he's deceased (gestorben), but the date of death is not listed.  Karoline is missing from the listings in the member's directory, perhaps because as Susanna (Ratzlaff) Wilson tells us, that she was living with a different family during this period of time.  The listing for Marie indicates her affiliation with Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church after her marriage to Peter P Penner, who was a member of Hoffnungsau.  Florentine's entry likewise indicates an affiliation with the First Mennonite Church in Hillsboro, KS.  Jacob's listing may indicate a similar affiliation, but I can't make out the handwriting to tell exactly what happened on October 31, 1937.

Andreas Ratzlaff family members' Alexanderwohl baptism listings (Taufhandlungen):

Karoline and Jacob are missing from this list of baptisms.  Again, Karoline was probably living with a different family at the time.  Was Jacob never baptised at Alexanderwohl?  All the children were baptised by Peter H. Unruh and father Andrew (Andreas) Ratzlaff is listed at the far right.

Andreas Ratzlaff family members’ Alexanderwohl wedding listings:

Marie, Karoline, and Katherine must have been married at other churches, while John remained unmarried.  Florentine married John D. Goosen, Susanna married Clyde Wilson, Abraham married Rachel Goertz, Albert married Mary Penner, Isaac married Esther Schroeder, and Jacob married Bertha K. Reimer.  P.H. Unruh presided over four of the weddings while P.H. Richert officiated Abraham's and A.J. Dyck officiated Albert's.

Apparently the Alexanderwohl churchbook does not list funerals, or maybe I just haven't found that information yet.  Nevertheless, Andreas Ratzlaff died on November 5, 1934, and was buried on November 8, in the Alexanderwohl Friedhof (cemetary). 

Susanna (Wedel) Ratzlaff survived another 26 years, living with Albert and his family for many of those years.  Susanna passed away on October 20, 1960.  She is also buried at Alexanderwohl.