Sperling, Cornelius C. (1886-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Sep 20 p. 2

Birth date: 1886 Jan 24

text of obituary:

DIES AT WHEEL OF CAR

Inman, Kan. — Funeral services were conducted at the Inman Mennonite Chruch [sic] on Sept 14 for Cornelious [sic Cornelius] C. Sperling, 70, who died of a heart attack Tuesday, Sept. 11, while driving his car near Buhler.

Mr. Sperling was born here Jan. 24, 1886, and lived in this community throughout his life. He leaves his wife, Anna, three daughters, two sons, and 11 grandchildren.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Oct 11 p. 8

text of obituary:

CORNELIUS C. SPERLING

"I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee . . ." Isaiah 42:6.

Cornelius C. Sperling, son of Peter and Anna Heidebrecht Sperling, was born on Jan.24, 1886, on a farm east of Inman in McPherson County, Kansas. His youthful days were spent on this farm with his parents. As a boy and young man he was always active, taking great interest in farm life, in sports, and other community interests. He was a lover of music and for some time played in the Lake Valley Community Band. All these things he continued to enjoy throughout life.

On June 6, 1907, he was baptized upon the confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour by Rev. Abraham Ratzlaff and was received as a member of the Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church near Inman. Here he remained a faithful member until 1946 when he and his wife transferred their membership to the Inman Mennonite Church where he remained a faithful and active member till his departure.

On Nov. 7, 1907, he was united in holy matrimony to Anna Schmidt with whom he shared a happy life together for almost 49 years. Five children, three daughters and two sons, were born to this union. He was a very good Christian husband and father, taking great interest in the activities of the family. In later years the grandchildren were a great joy to him, and would never be unrecognized by him.

He loved the farm and farmed all his life until 1945, when he with his wife retired and moved to Inman. His interest, however, remained in farming and he spent many hours helping his children with the farm work.

Throughout life he was an active man, taking keen interest in community, civic, world and church affairs. It was his privilege to serve on school boards, city council and other community enterprises. In both churches of which he has been a member of the board of trustees and other committees in the Hoffnungsau Church. Upon joining the Inman Mennonite Church he was almost immediately elected a member of the church board, which position he faithfully carried out until last winter when ill health made it necessary to relinquish this office. During the recent building program of the church he served on one of the committees and has spent many hours helping at the church. He always had on open heart for the work of the Lord. Being a lover of music, he found joy in singing in the choruses of the church.

His alert mind and active interest in all affairs will long be remembered by the family. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed excellent health all his life until Oct. 30, 1955, when he suffered a heart attack and was confined to a hospital for a period of time. Gradually he recovered from this and was able to enjoy normal life again. His departure came suddenly and unexpectedly while driving the car back from Hutchinson on Sept. 11 at about 11:00 a. m. He reached the age of 70 years, seven months and 18 days.

He leaves to mourn his all too sudden departure his bereaved widow, Anna; three daughters and their husbands, Esther and Myron Bass of Glendale, Calif., Frieda and Arthur V. Regier, Irene and Paul Thiessen, all of Inman; two sons and their wives, Herbert and Vernabelle of Hutchinson, and Leslie and Kathryn of McPherson; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Helena Hamm and Mrs. C. H. Voth both of Buhler; two brothers, Henry of Dinuba, Calif. and John of Newton, Kansas, and many other relatives and a host of friends. — The Family.