Hertzler, Christian (1870-1947)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1947 Feb 13 p. 5

Birth date: 1870 Oct 24

text of obituary:

. . .

— The many friends and acquaintances of Chris Hertzler at Hesston were shocked to hear of his sudden death of heart attack at about 7:30 o’clock Friday morning, Feb. 7. He collapsed after descending the stairs at his home and passed away before the doctor arrived. Having been one of our long-time friends, the Review editor is among those who feels his loss deeply. Mr. Hertzler was perhaps one of the state’s best known well drillers, an occupation which he followed for more than 40 years. Funeral services were held at the Hesston College chapel Monday afternoon, conducted by Pres. Milo Kauffman and Ivan Lind. His wife and three daughters survive.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1947 Mar 6 p. 3

text of obituary:

CHRISTIAN HERTZLER

Christian Hertzler was born October 24, 1870, in Morgantown, Pa., and died February 7, 1947, aged 75 years, three months and 13 days.

Born of parents of limited means and lacking opportunity for employment at home, he turned his face westward while still a boy, working his way from place to place over much of the West. Considerable of this time was spent in Kansas, and after his marriage to Elizabeth Stoltzfus, at Belleville, Pa., on December 23, 1900, he and his companion came to Kansas and settled near Hesston, and have resided in the community since.

To this union were born four children: Carol of Wheaton, Ill.; Anna, Mrs. Paul J. Hershey, of LaJunta, Colo.; Ruth, Mrs. Walter Martin, of Iowa City, Iowa; and Ellen, who was drowned in an accident while going to school at Goshen, Indiana. Surviving also are his companion, two brothers, Isaiah, West Liberty, Ohio, and Joe, Gap, Pa., and six grandchildren.

Following a short service at the residence, where a quartet consisting of Ivan Diller, Allen Diller, Waldo Miller and Clarence Sommerfeld sang “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” funeral services were held at the Hesston College chapel. The Hesston College men’s chorus sang “The Old Rugged Cross,” “City Four Square,” and “Sweet Bye and Bye.” Interment was in the family lot at the Pennsylvania Mennonite church cemetery, near Hesston, where the quartet again sang “Silently They Pass Away.”

In charge of the services were Milo Kauffman and Ivan Lind. Pallbearers were A. N. Troyer, J. R. Diller, C. F. Greaser, Eli Yoder, Owen Hershberger and Roy S. Troyer.