Block, John Henry (1899-1969)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1969 Sep 19 p. 26

Birth date: 1899 Aug 10

text of obituary:

JOHN HENRY BLOCK

John Block of Clearbrook, B.C. passed away on August 16 at his home at the age of 70.

Born in the village of Gross-Gerhardstahl, Ekaterinoslav, Russia on August 10, 1899, John Block was the sixth child of a family of 16. His parents were Henry Jacob and Katirina Block. After moving to No. 3 Village, Arkadak in 1912. he finished his elementary school and started high school. He accepted Christ as his Savior at 17. In 1917, he joined the Mennonite Brethren Church through baptism.

At 20 the government drafted him along with others and he served the armed forces as a carpenter for three years. Being a skilled tradesman. he was exempt from carrying arms.

His interest in music led him to start a youth choir, to sing in the church choir, as well as to act as assistant choir director. In 1922, he married Lena Sawatsky at Mariontov. Russia. The marriage was blessed with three sons and four daughters.

In 1925 the family emigrated to Canada, settled on undeveloped farmland at Mullingar, Saskatchewan and spent 10 years pioneering there. During this time he served the church as choir and music director. Many evenings were spent transcribing the old songs wri1ten in number music to notes.

Having sold everything, the family moved to British Columbia in 1937, buying their first house for $75 and renting a lot at Yarrow. His trade as a carpenter proved most useful and in due time he owned his own construction business from which he retired in 1958. Funeral services were held in the Clearbrook (B.C.) Church on August 19, with Rev. Herman Lenzmann and Rev. P. R. Toews officiating.

Left to mourn his passing are his wife, Helena; and his children, Jack and Lena Block,Henry and Katherine Block, Arthur and Rita Block, Alvin and Erna Ens, Jacob and Helen Nickel, Peter and Elvira Wiebe, and Walter and Ann Willems; 22 grandchildren; four brothers and one sister; and many relatives and friends.