Nachtigal, Heinrich Ediger (1919-1945)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1945 Nov 6 p. 14

Birth date: 1919 May 2

text of obituary:

Heinrich Ediger Nachtigal, Sohn von Heinrich P. und Maria Ediger Nachtigal, ward am 2. Mai 1919 in McPherson Co., Kans. geboren und erhielt in der Sparta Distrikt-Schule und der Inman Hochschule seine Bildung. Als er 16 Jahre alt war nahm er Jesus an und ward von Aelt. A. J. Dyck getauft und Glied der Hoffnungsau Gemeinde, wo er treues Glied blieb. Als er 12 Jahre alt war starb seine Mutter und vor einem Jahr sein Vater. Er erhielt in Katharina Unruh eine zweit [sic] Mutter, die sich seiner annahm. Im Dez. 1941 ward er in den Dienst der Regierung gerufen und kam nach dem CPS Lager in Colorado Springs, und später nach Belton, Montana. 1942 im Okt. übernahm er Krankenpflege in Staunton, Va. Hospital. Am 17. Sept. 1944 heiratete er Gertrude Neufeld. Diese Ehe war von kurzer Dauer. Im Hospitaldienst ward er von einem Nervenkranken geschlagen. Das hat vielleicht mitgeholfen ein Gewächs in seinem Gehirn rascher wachsen zu machen. Er verlor zunächst das Augenlicht auf einem Auge und auch das andere ward schwach. Seine Glieder wurden nacheinandergelähmt und er ward ganz hilflos. Zuletzt versagte auch die Sprache. Hilfe von Spezialisten, die er im Juni und wieder im Juli in Kansas City suchte, war erfolglos und der Arzt erklärte die Krankheit als unheilbar. Er ward noch zur X-Ray Behandlung nach dem Halstead Hospital gebracht von 22. Juli zum 10. August. Dann kam er heim wo seine Gattin und andere suchten ihn aufs best e zu plegen. In all seinen Leiden war er geduldig und sagte wiederholt “Das sind Gottes Wege mit mir und ich will sie ohne Murren gehen.” Nie war er unzufrieden in seinen Leiden. Er war ein liebender Gatte und das und sein williges Leiden, seine Liebe und Geduld leben weiter im Andenken seiner jungen Gattin. Sie sagt daher: “Auf wiedersehen beim Herrn im Licht, — wenn auch das Auge weint und das Herz schmerzt.” Er entschlief um 11 Uhr am 1. Sept. 1945 und hinterläßt nebst seiner Gattin, 4 Brüder: Frank, Dan, Richard und Paul; 3 Schwestern: Tillie, Frau Olin Schmidt; Wanda und Ruth; und seine 2te Mutter und viele Freunde.

“Daheim, o welch ein schönes Wort:
Daheim, o welch ein lieber Ort.
Daheim, wie gerne möcht ich heim
Um ewig bei dem Herrn zu sein.”

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1945 Sep 13 p. 5

text of obituary:

Newton And Vicinity

. . .

— At the Bethel Deaconess Hospital a daughter was born to Mrs. Gertrude Nachtigal on Friday, Sept. 7. Unfortunately, the little girl's father, Henry E. Nachtigal, died at Inman less than a week before, — on Saturday night, Sept. 1. Mr. Nachtigal was in civilian public service at Staunton, Va., where he become [sic] ill last June. He entered the Halstead Hospital and was a patient there for a number of weeks, but was later taken to his home at Inman, where he also passed away. He was 26 years old. Funeral services at the Hoffnungsau church, of which he was a member, were conducted by Rev. A. J. Dyck, and Rev. P. T. Neufeld. Besides his deeply sorrowing wife and baby daughter, the following family members survive: his step-mother, Mrs. Katherine Nachtigal, Newton; four brothers, Frank and Paul, Moundridge; Dan, Derby; and Richard, Howard, R. I.; and three sisters, Mrs. Olin Schmidt, Inman, and Wanda and Ruth of Newton.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1945 Nov 1 p. 3

text of obituary:

HENRY E. NACHTIGAL

Henry E. Nachtigal was born May 2, 1919, in McPherson county, Kansas, the son of Henry P. and Maria Ediger Nachtigal. He received his education in the Sparta district school and later in the Inman high school. When he was 16 years old he accepted Jesus as his personal Saviour and was baptized upon the confession of his faith, on June 19, 1935, buy Rev. A. J. Dyck and received into the Hopeview church, where he remained a faithful member until his death.

When he was 10 years old he lost his mother by death. His father died a year ago. He found another mother in his father's second wife, Katherine Unruh, who cared for him in his childhood days. In December, 1941, he was called into government service and came to the CPS camp at Colorado Springs on December 8,. Later he was in the Belton, Montana, CPS camp. In October 1942, he transferred to mental hospital service and was sent to Staunton, Va.

After his father died, which broke up the home he was very lonesome. He married Gertrude Neufeld on September 17, 1944. The happy marriage was short, less than a year. In the mental hospital he was struck by an inmate. It was nothing serious, but may have agitated a developing brain tumor. he lost the sight of his right eye and later the left eye also was affected. After a while his whole body was paralyized [sic], and he became helpless. Towards the end his speech also was affected. He was taken to a specialist in Kansas City in June and again in July, but nothing could be done for him. He was in the Halstead Hospital from July 22 to August 10, but to no avail. He was taken home where his loving wife and others nursed him the best they could. He was patient in all his suffering and repeatedly said, "These are God's ways with me and I want to bear it patiently." He never murmured in his sufferings.

He was a loving husband, and his love, his patience and submission will long be remembered though he has departed. Though we weep and our heart aches, we can say, We shall meet again with the Lord.

He died September 1, 1945, at 10:45 P. M. He reached the age of 26 years, 1 months and 29 days. He leaves to mourn his death, his wife, Gertrude Neufeld Nachtigal; four brothers Frank, Dan, Richard and Paul; three sisters, Tillie, Mrs. Olin Schmidt, Wanda, Ruth and his step-mother, Mrs. Katharine Nachtigal, and many relatives and friends.

Does Jesus care when I've said "Goodbye"
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches til it nearly breaks —
Is it ought to Him? Does He see?
O yes, He cares; I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Saviour cares.

— The Family.