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Kliewer, Henry (1862-1943)
Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1943 Nov 2 p. 14
Birth date: 1862 Jan 9
text of obituary:
Heinrich Kliewer ward am 9. Januar 1862 zu Franzthal, Süd-Russland geboren. Mit 13 Jahren kam er mit Eltern nach Kansas. Als kräftiger Junge konnte er den Eltern in den Pionierjahren tüchtig mithelfen auf der Farm bei Buhler. Sein Vater starb 1876, somit fiel es ihm und seinem Bruder John mehr zu für die Familie zu sorgen. Heinrich wurde von Aelt. D. Gaeddert getauft und Glied der Hoffnungsau Gemeinde. Er war stets in kirchlichen Angelegenheiten aktiv, sowie an Sonntagsschule und Jugendverein. In 1881 heiratete er Maria Kliewer, und das junge Paar war 2 Jahre auf unserer Missionsstation bei Cantonment stationiert, wo er als Farmer tätig war. In 1889 zog die Familie auf eine Heimstätte bei Shelly Okla., wo er einige Jahre Regierungs-Farmer unter den Indianern war und dann für sich farmte. Etwa 1903 zog er mit Familie nach Gotebo, Okla.; später wohnte er zeitweilig zu Valentine, Texas; Carlsbad, N. Mexico; Newton und Burrton, Kansas; Susanville, Calif.; Newport, Wash. und schliesslich wieder bei Burrton, Kansas wo er sein Leben schloss. Seine Gattin starb in 1911 in New Mexico. Ihnen wurden 14 Kinder geboren. Nach 8jährigem Witwerstand heiratete er Frau Gertrude Jantzen Unruh in 1919 in Burrton. Sie starb im Dezember 1938. Nun wohnte er abwechselnd bei den Kindern in Tulsa, Okla.; Newton, Kansas; Newport, Wash.; und Pennsylvania. Einige Tage vor seinem Ableben hatte er einen Schlag und starb in Freiden im Bethel Hospital am 25. September 1943 um 8 Uhr morgens im Alter von 81 J. 8 M. und 16 Tagen. Es überleben ihn 9 Kinder: Gerhard, Newton; John C., Philadelphia; Daniel und Albert und Frieda, und Frau Elisabeth Winsinger, alle Lancaster, Pa.; Frau Martha Gamber, Scottdale, Pa.; Frau Sara Fietz, Villanova, Pa.; Sam, Tulsa, Okla., und 3 Stiefkinder: Pred. P. D. Unruh, Newport, Wash.; Ernst F. Unruh, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; und Frau Linda Mott. Das Begräbnis fand in Burrton statt. Bei der Feier dienten die Prediger J. J. Epp und F. Pankratz.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1943 Sep 30 p. 5
text of obituary:
. . .
— Henry Kliewer, for many years a pioneer farmer at Burrton, died last Saturday at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital. He was very ill when brought to the hospital by his children on Friday. He was well up in the 80s and had not been in good health for some time. For the past years he had stayed with his children here and in Pennsylvania and Oklahoma, but most lately with his sister, Mrs. A. F. Regier at Burrton. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Burrton Mennonite church. Children surviving are: Gerhad M., Newton; John C., Philadelphia, Pa.; Mrs. Arpa (Chris H.) Kliewer, Tulsa, Okla., a daughter-in-law; Mrs. Wm. Winsinger, Lancaster, Pa.; Daniel D. Lancaster, Pa., Mrs. Martha Gamber, Scottdale, Pa.; Mrs. Sarah Fietz, Villanova, Pa.; Frieda H. Kliewer, R. N., Lancaster, Pa.; Sam F., Tulsa Okla., and Albert A., Lancaster, Pa.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1943 Oct 7 p. 3
text of obituary:
HENRY KLIEWER
Henry Kliewer was born on January 9, 1862, in the village of Franzthal, South Russia, where his parents, one brother, and his sisters and he came to America. He was then a lad of thirteen, unusually strong and robust for his age, and well able to assist his parents in the many problems incident to establishing their pioneer home near Buhler, Kansas.
His father died one year later, leaving him and his brother John to care for and support their mother and sisters. His pioneer life experienced many dangerous trials, but he was always aware that his Heavenly Father was watching over him and caring for him.
He was baptized at an early age by Rev. Dietrich Gaeddert in what is now the Hoffnungsau Church. Increasingly, both in early and in later life, his fellowship with the church afforded him deep spiritual satisfactions. He was always active in church work, taking a keen interest in Sunday school work and particularly in Christian Endeavor work, a number of which he personally helped to organize.
After several years of work at home and for others in the neighborhood, he married Maria Kliewer (no kinship) in the year of 1881. His wife was the daughter of Rev. Gerhardt G. Kliewer. The young couple served two years as mission farmer at Cantonment, Oklahoma. In 1889 the family moved to Shelly, Oklahoma, where he homesteaded near the Washita River. Several years he served as government farmer among the Arrapahe [sic] and Cheyenne Indians, after which he returned to private farming for several years, and enjoyed a happy family life.
About 1903, during the winter, he moved, together with his family, to Gotebo; and at various times in his life he lived in Valentine, Texas; Carlsbad, New Mexico; Newton and Burrton, Kansas; Susanville, California; Newport, Washington; and returning to Burrton, where he spent the last eleven months of his life.
His wife passed away in September, 1911, while living in New Mexico. To this union were born fourteen children, of which four preceded their mother in death. After eight years as a widower – years filled with grief and loneliness, he was married to Mrs. Gertrude Jantzen Unruh, at Burrton, Kansas, in the fall of 1919. This wedlock continued until December, 1938, when his beloved wife also preceded him in death.
The following four years he spent with his children, first at Newport, Washington; then at Tulsa, Oklahoma; Newton, Kansas; and in Pennsylvania. In October, 1942, he came to Burrton, Kansas, where he made his home with his widowed sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Regier, until his passing.
While he had been in ill health for many years with rheumatism, he was active and able to get around until only a few days before his death, when heart trouble developed. He passed away quietly in peaceful slumber at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital, Newton, Kansas, at 8:20 a. m., Saturday, September 25, 1943. He attained the age of 81 years, 8 months, and 16 days.
Surviving him are nine children – five sons and four daughters; Gerhart M., residing at Newton, Kansas; John C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Sam S., Tulsa, Oklahoma; Mrs. Elizabeth Winsinger and Frieda Kliewer, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Martha Gamber, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Sara Fietz, Villanova, Pennsylvania. Also surviving are three step-children: Rev. P. D. Unruh, minister of the Mennonite Church at Newport, Washington; Ernest F. Unruh, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Mrs. Linda Mott. He had twenty-two grandchildren; of these, twenty-one are living. Another son, Christian H. Kliewer precede him in death in June, 1942.
His life was an active life, filled with work, both private and public. His mind worked along socially constructive lines, and he found his deepest satisfactions in helpful fellowship among his immediate family and his church relationships, and in the sweet consciousness of a close walk with God.
Funeral services were held at the Burrton Mennonite church, conducted by Rev. J. J. Epp and Rev. Frank Pankratz. Interment was in the church cemetery.
The Mennonite obituary: 1943 Oct 19 p. 12
