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Graber, Daniel (1858-1930)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1930 Oct 15 p. 7
Birth date: 1858 Mar 8
text of obituary:
The funeral services of Rev. Daniel Graber were held at the Sugar Creek Mennonite church Saturday afternoon, September 27 at 1:30 o'clock. Good weather and roads permitted relatives and friends from far and near to be present. Many came from other states to pay their respect to one that they had learned to know and reverence.
The services were in charge of Rev. Simon Gingrich of the Sugar Creek church. Twelve or fifteen ministers from the various Mennonite churches of Iowa and other states were seated on the rostrum or nearby. Rev. John Y. Schwartzendruber of the Lower Deer Creek church near Kalona, Iowa, read the 21st chapter of Revelations and Rev. Daniel Fisher of the East Union church, Kalona, offered prayer. Rev. S. C. Yoder president of Goshen College, Goshen, Ind., and a close friend of the Graber family, delivered a brief eulogy. He said that one of the rewards of the departed was that he was permitted to see his family grow up to an age where they are capable of taking care of themselves and also to note that they were living exemplary lives.
Rev. S. Gingerich used as a basis of his sermon several portions of scripture, 1st and 2nd verses of 1st John, 2nd and latter part of the 13th chapter of 1st Peter, these Rev. Graber had told his older son and Rev. Gingerich several years ago were the basis of his hope.
The pall bearers were nephews of the deceased, D. S. Graber, David Graber, Jonathan Graber, Peter Graber, John Alliman and D. J. Alliman. Interment was made in the Sugar Creek cemetery.
Daniel Graber was born near Noble, Washington County, Iowa, March 8, 1858. When one year old he moved to the Graber homestead where he lived a few months more than seventy years. On account of his failing health he left the farm about a year ago and moved to his late home where he died on the 24th of September 1930 at the age of 72 years, 6 months and 16 days.
He accepted Christ as his personal Savior in his youth, uniting with the Sugar Creek Amish Mennonite congregation near Wayland, Iowa. He never changed his church home and always took an active part in all the functions of his church. His work in this congregation will long be remembered by those who knew him. When but eighteen years of age he served as Sunday School superintendent. He was a special friend of children. For years he conducted a children's service after the regular Sunday School hour. He was a lover of sacred song and much interested in better congregational singing. He conducted singing classes in the church and community. Many of the middle aged people of the neighborhood fondly recall the splendid fellowship in these services.
In April 1893 he was called into the ministry of his congregation and served them thirty-seven years. He used the German language mostly in his preaching, but could also use the English fluently which enabled him to be a great service to his church during the period of language transition. As a minister his labors were not confined to his own congregation, but was among the first evangelists appointed by conference. For many years he was secretary of his conference and when the mission was started in Kansas City he was appointed by conference to serve on the local board. He was a member of this board as long as his health permitted. He was a man of simple faith. To him the teachings of the Bible were final. This faith together with good, sound business judgment and personal attainment made him a very useful and appreciated father, neighbor and fellow-citizen.
On March 8, 1892 he was married to Fanny Conrad. Nine children were born to this union. The oldest daughter preceeded [sic] him in death. He leaves his deeply bereaved wife; two sons, Chriss L., Goshen, Ind., and Joseph D., Dhamtari, C. P., India; six daughters, Anna, La Junta, Colo., Mary, (Mrs. Ellis Zook), Walyand [sic Wayland], Iowa, Verna (Mrs. Willard Smith), Goshen, Ind.; Elizabeth, Magdalena and a large number of relatives, neighbors and friends to mourn their loss. — Wayland News.
