Anna Dick

Anna Dick died on January 13, 2007 at the Henderson Care Center reaching the age of 96 years. Services were held on Tuesday, January 16, with graveside services at 1:00 p.m. and memorial services at the Henderson Mennonite Brethren Church at 2:00 p.m. with the Reverend J. Edward Epp officiating.

Survivors of her immediate family are: Doris and Harold Kroeker, Henderson; Leanna and Lee Penner, Aurora; Beverly and Pal Wright, Olathe, Kansas; LeRoy and Judy Dick, Hampton; and Phyllis and Jim Pickle, Wichita, Kansas; also, sixteen grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren. Also surviving are brother Henry and Miriam Quiring, Henderson, sister Helen Berg, Fresno, California, and sister-in-law Bertha Quiring of Henderson. She also leaves nieces, nephews, and many friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Henry, parents, brothers Jake, Pete, and John Quiring, and sisters Tina Quiring and Elizabeth Ediger.

Anna was born June 3, 1910, to John P. and Katherina (Toews) Quiring on a farm southeast of Hampton. She lived all of her life in Hamilton and York counties. She completed the eighth grade at District 48, but was not able to attend high school since she was needed at home. In 1929-30 she attended Tabor College Academy for some bible training. In 1932 she worked as a cook at the Mothers Jewels Home in York.

On December 18, 1932 she became the bride of Henry Dick, after they lived on various farms in Hamilton County. In 1946 they purchased the homestead that Anna’s parents had built when she was a child. They lived there until their retirement in Hampton in 1967. In 1975 they moved to Henderson. Her husband passed away in 1978, and she continued to live in her home until 2002, spending her final years at Rosewood Court and the Henderson Care Center.

She accepted Jesus as her Savior at the age of 13. She was baptized in the Blue River on a snowy October day when she was 16. She was an active member of the Henderson Mennonite Brethren Church, teaching Sunday school for many years and meeting with her church circle to sew quilts for MCC and Missionary families.

Anna was an avid reader, enjoyed traveling, doing the daily crossword puzzle, crocheting, and quilting. She still met with the garden club until shortly before her death. Anna loved to cook and bake and entertain guests for meals. She seldom missed children’s and grandchildren’s athletic events and programs. Most important, she prayed daily for her family and had a great concern about their relationship with God.

Until her passing, she had an active mind and a remarkable memory. At the age of 90 she wrote her own history in which she recounted the hardships of the depression, drought, dust storms, and two world wars. Through these experiences she learned the lessons of dependence on God, frugality, sacrifice, and a willingness to work hard. It was also a time of great change – from the family’s first car, a 1915 Maxwell, which was too fast to drive in her great grandfather’s funeral procession, to the jet in later years that took her on a holiday to Europe.

We are thankful for having had a mom and grandma for these many years. She sometimes wondered why God chose to keep her so long, but we were comforted many times knowing she was praying for each one of us, especially in medical emergencies in the past several years. More than that she wanted to leave knowing that each one of us had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 31:26 “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her bless-ed.”

Memorials may be directed to the Mennonite Brethren Church, Henderson, Nebraska.