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Schellenberg, Abraham Lohrenz (1869-1941)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1941 Apr 16 p. 5
Birth date: 1869 May 30
text of obituary:
. . .
— A. L. Schellenberg, uncle of Dr. P. E. Schellenberg of Bethel College, died last Friday at Dalhart, Texas. He was buried Tuesday at the M. B. church in Buhler. Mr. Schellenberg was widely known as former editor of the "Vorwaerts" at Hillsboro.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1941 May 7 p. 3
text of obituary:
Abraham Lohrenz Schellenberg, whose death many mourn, was born on May 30, 1869, in South Russia. He was the first son in a large family. When nine years of age, his parents Abraham and Katherine Schellenberg, nee Lohrenz, emigrated to the United States, to settle in Harvey County, Kansas.
In a pioneer country, in which his people were assured freedom of worship according to the dictates of their conscience, he was to be reared by God-fearing parents until his maturity. His elementary education, which was begun before he left South Russia, was finished in the Kansas public schools. Later he attended the Baptist Theological Seminary at Rochester, New York, and later still McPherson College in Kansas.
The question of accepting Jesus Christ as personal Savior had been in his mind for a number of years when the time of decision came to him rather suddenly and he accepted the Lord as savior and guide of his life. He was baptized and received into the membership of the Mennonite Brethren church on confession of his faith on December 19, 1897.
Two months later, on February 27, 1898, he was married to Sarah Schroeder. To this union were born ten children, seven of whom remain to mourn his death.
His life's work, to which he devoted most of his energy, was that of manager of the Publishing House and editor of the church periodical of the Mennonite Brethren church. to this position he was appointed, following the decision of the General Conference, in session at Mountain Lake, Minnesota, in the year 1906.
In 1929 he moved with his family to the Coldwater community near Dalhart, Texas. In this community he experienced anew all the hardships of a pioneer life which were made worse by a severe drought period. overburdened by work and distressed by reverses, he developed a heart ailment which last fall caused a severe paralytic stroke. In his weakened condition he broke his arm through a fall. He was taken to Hooker, Oklahoma, for treatments and care, where he died on April 11. On the same date just twenty one years earlier, his father passed away.
At the time of his admission to the church when asked whether he would be able to remain faithful to His Lord, he gave as a testimony the words of Phil. 1: 6 "Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." This good work, we believe, has now been completed as far as the earthly carrier is concerned.
He leaves to mourn his departure his wife, three sons, Theodore, Abraham and Walter; four daughters, Katherine, Sara, Sophie, and Mrs. Esther Smith; one son-in-law, Allen Smith; three daughters-in-law, Alma Alice Schellenberg, Mrs. Alma Lee Ezell, Mrs. Susie Schellenberg; six grandchildren; six brothers and ten sisters and a large circle of relatives and friends.
