Harms, Cornelius P. (1888-1963)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 Oct 17 p. 8

Birth date: 1888 Apr 4

text of obituary:

CORNELIUS P. HARMS

Cornelius P. Harms, son of Peter T. and Katherine Epp Harms, was born on April 4, 1888 in Rueckenau, South Russia. At the age of four years he came to America with his parents. They settled at Henderson, Neb. and when he was 17 years old they came to Reedley, Calif. where they remained until the Lord called him to his eternal Home.

At the age of eight years [18?] he accepted Christ as his personal Saviour and on April 7, 1907 he was baptized upon confession of his faith by Rev. Abram Schellenberg and received into the M. B. church in Reedley.

He received his elementary education in the public schools of Nebraska and California and his advanced training at Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kan.

Cornelius Harms and Eva Schellenberg were married in the Ebenezer M. B. Church at Buhler, Kan. by Rev. H. W. Lorenz on June 12, 1917. When he left Tabor College he began his teaching career. He taught at Durham, Lehigh and Buhler, Kan.

The burden which the Lord laid upon his heart was to teach young people and children the Word of God, and explain to them the way of salvation. He also had occasion to teach Sunday school, vacation Bible school, and evening school in our churches. He was Sunday school superintendent for a number of years.

When we moved to Reedley, Calif. in 1920 we bought a fruit ranch to make our livelihood, but he always said, “Teaching young people the Word of God should come first!” For this reason we did extension work at the Tagus Ranch. here he together with a number of teachers, started the Tagus Sunday School. We served in this Sunday School for a number of years.

My ill health at that time caused us to retire from the work and move to the town of Reedley, where we have enjoyed our last years together.

Four years ago my husband had an operation from which he never fully recovered. He succumbed to cancer on Sept. 27 at the age of 75 years, five months and 23 days.

He leaves to mourn his departure his beloved wife, Eva Schellenberg Harms, two brothers and seven sisters, and many friends and relatives. — Mrs. Eva Harms.