Foth, Jacob W. (H.) (1903-1950)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Feb 2 p. 1

Birth date: 1903 Sep 30

text of obituary:

Parents and One Child Lose Lives In Auto Crash

JACOB FOTH FAMILY IN TRAGIC ACCIDENT NEAR HENDERSON, NEB.

Henderson, Neb. — A highway accident four miles west of here shortly after noon Sunday proved fatal to three members of a Henderson family, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob W. Foth and their youngest child, a daughter. The father had been an Instructor at the local high school for a number of years.

The three older children in the family were seriously injured but are reported to be recovering in the hospital at Aurora. The lone occupant of the other car was also hospitalized.

According to reports of the accident here, the two cars came together with terrific force at an intersection and Mr. Foth was killed instantly. Mrs. Foth died on the way to the Aurora hospital, and the youngest child passed away sometime later.

Mr. Foth is a native of Hillsboro, Kans., and Mrs. Foth, a registered nurse, was reared at Lehigh, Kansas. They had lived at Henderson for a number of years.

Relatives in Kansas received word that funeral services for Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Foth and child are to be held at the Lehigh high school on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 2.

Mrs. Foth was the former Mary Plett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Plett of Lehigh. Mr. Foth’s mother and brother reside on a farm southwest of Hillsboro.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Feb 9 p. 1

text of obituary:

Triple Funeral Services Widely Attended

SERVICES IN NEBRASKA AND KANSAS FOR ACCIDENT VICTIMS

Hillsboro, Kans. — A large number of friends and relatives attended the two funeral services last week for Jacob W. Foth and wife, the former Mary Plett, and their daughter Martha, 4, who lost their lives in an auto accident near Henderson, Nebr. on Jan. 29.

Services were conducted at the Henderson M.B. church Wednesday forenoon with Rev. Arthur Flaming officiating. The church was filled in overflowing. Thursday afternoon services were held at the Lehigh high school auditorium, which also was not large enough to accomodate [sic] the large assembly of friends. Rev. C. F. Plett, pastor of the Springfield K.M.B. church, and Rev. J. H. Lohrenz of Hillsboro officiated. Burial was made in the Springfield cemetery.

The three Voth [sic Foth] children who survived the accident are in the hospital at Aurora, Nebr. They are Donald, 16, who suffered a broken hip; Lawrence, 12, broken left hand and severe bruises; and Mary Alice, 7, who has a broken leg. The grandparents, Rev. and Mrs. J. E. Plett of Hillsboro, have moved to Henderson to care for them.

Mr. Foth, 46, formerly taught school in the Hillsboro community and at Meade, and was teaching for the 11th year at the Henderson high school. His wife, 43, was a registered nurse.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Feb 16 p. 3

text of obituary:

JACOB H. FOTH

Jacob H. Foth, son of Rev. John S. and Helena Lohrentz Foth, was born on September 30, 1903, on his parental farm eight miles southwest of Hillsboro, and passed away Jan. 29, 1950, reaching the age of 46 years, three months and 30 days.

His childhood days were spent in happy fellowship with his sisters and brothers. He received his elementary training in the Steinbach school. In 1920 his father passed away, which placed on him and his brother the responsibility of caring for the farm and easing the burdens of their mother.

During the ministry of Dr. R. A. Torry at the Bible Normal in Tabor college he realized his lost condition and accepted Christ as his personal Saviour. Upon the confession of his faith he was baptized in 1921 by Rev. J. D. Reimer and became a member of the Mennonite Brethren church of Goessel. Later his membership was transferred Into the M. B. church of Ebenfeld and later to the M. B. church of Henderson, Neb. Here he was a faithful member unto the end.

He graduated from the Tabor academy and also took a year of college at Tabor college. He finished his college work in McPherson, Kansas.

He began his teaching profession in a rural school a mile from his home, and also taught in the Goessel and Meade communities. In 1939 the move was made to Henderson, where he taught in high school for some 10 and one-half years. His interest in children and counselling of young people was manifested by the many friends made during his teaching days.

August 14, 1932, he was joined in bonds of holy matrimony with Mary Plett. This happy union was blessed by four children. Busy teaching days of Jake and the busy life of his wife did not interfere in his paying the proper attention to his family. Many happy hours were spent in carefree play with the children,

On the morning of January 29, 1950, the family attended Sunday school and church services as usual. They were all happy in the thought of spending Sunday dinner with some dear friends. Jake's life suddenly came to an end when the family car collided with another car and three lives were ushered into the presence of their Lord and Saviour whom they loved and served.

He leaves to mourn his departure three children, Donald age 16, Lawrence age 11, Mary Alice age 9; his mother, Mrs. John S. Foth, Hillsboro: one sister Helen, Mrs. H. H. Loewen and family of Wichita; two brothers, John of Hillsboro, and Henry and family of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; a host of relatives and friends. We mourn but not as those who have no hope. I Thess. 4:13.