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Gaede, Alvin W. (1898-1953)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Nov 26 p. 1
Birth date: 1898
text of obituary:
WELL KNOWN PHYSICIAN OF BAKERSFIELD, CAL., CALLED AWAY IN DEATH
Bakersfield, Calif. — Funeral services for Dr. Alvin W. Gaede, well known physician here, were held recently at the Bakersfield Mennonite Brethren church. Dr. P. R. Lange of Tabor college, Hillsboro, Kansas, preached the funeral sermon.
Dr. Gaede, an alumnus of Tabor College, served on the College board of directors from 1943 to 1946. Survivors include his wife, a daughter Beatrice and son James.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Dec 3 p. 10
text of obituary:
Bakersfield Physician Served In Paraguay
DR. A. W. GAEDE WAS ACTIVE IN CHURCH AND COMMUNITY WORK
Bakersfield, Cal. — Dr. Alvin W. Gaede, physician and surgeon of Bakersfield, passed away Thursday, Nov. 19, at the age of 55 years, having served in the medical profession for 22 years. His death was caused by a heart attack.
Born in the Ebenfield community near Hillsboro, Kansas, Dr. Gaede was well known in central California. He attended Tabor College and received the M.D. degree from the Kansas University Medical School in 1931. He opened his first office in St. John, Kansas, but soon was called to serve in the United Verde Copper Company hospital at Jerome, Arizona. In 1934 he and his family moved to Shafter, Calif, where he practiced 15 years.
Keenly feeling the medical need of the refugees, he went on a mission to South America in 1946 under the Mennonite Central Committee to work among the brethren of our faith in the Fernheim and Menno colonies. Finding that the hookworm was one of the most prevalent menaces of the colonists, Dr. Gaede carried on extensive research to bring this menace under control. Since this work necessitated much technical laboratory work, he trained young men to become laboratory technicians, instituted a course for such training, and wrote manuals in the German language to be used in this course, so that the work could be carried on after his leaving.
For the last five years, Dr. Gaede with his family made his home in Bakersfield, where he was a staff-member of the various hospitals. At the time of his death, he was an active member of the Kern County Medical Society, the California Medical Association, The American Medical Association, and of the American Academy of General Practice.
His interests however were varied and many. As a young man he became the first organist of the Ebenfeld church. In Shatter he was a Sunday school teacher for some time, a member of the board of the Young Men’s Christian Association, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and became a charter member of the Rotary Club.
He was a staunch supporter of Christian education, serving for some years on the Tabor College Board of Education, and through Dr. Gaede’s enthusiastic effort “California Hall” came into existence on the Tabor College campus. An organizer of the Kansas University Alumni group in California, he was also active in Kern County Chamber of Commerce roundtables, the Painters Club, and the Kern Philharmonic Society.
Memorial services for Dr. Gaede were conducted on Monday afternoon at 1:00 o’clock, Nov. 23 in the First Baptist church of Bakersfield with Rev. Arthur Flaming, pastor of the Mennonite Brethren church, officiating. Rev. P. N. Hiebert of Rosedale spoke words of comfort in the funeral chapel; Dr. P. R. Lange from Tabor College gave the funeral sermon in the sanctuary. A quartet, composed of John and Reinald Richert, Glen Bergthold, and Pete Kliewer, brought comforting music.
Interment was made in the Greenlawn Cemetery. A corps of physicians and nurses from the Bakersfield hospitals were present at the memorial services to pay tribute to this active life of their fellow workman.
Survivors include his widow Lena of Bakersfield; three sons, Calvin of Fresno, Don Carlos of Los Angeles, and Jimmy of Bakersfield; a daughter Beatrice of Bakersfield; a daughter-in-law Dorothy, and a granddaughter Patricia; his mother, Anna B. Gaede; and five brothers and eight sisters.
