Van der Smissen, Carl H. (1851-1950)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Jul 6 p. 1

Birth date: 1851 Dec 4

text of obituary:

98 Year Old Minister Called in Death

REV. C. H. VAN DER SMISSEN DIED JUNE 30 AT BETHEL HOME FOR THE AGED

The 98 year old Rev. C. H. van der Smissen, a resident of the Bethel Home for Aged since the early 30's, passed away at 12:45 p.m., Friday, June 30, from the infirmities of old age. He was the oldest minister in the General Conference, in which he held many responsible positions in his long lifetime.

Rev. van der Smissen was born Dec. 4, 1851 in Friedrichstadt, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, the son of Rev. Carl J. and Sarah van der Smissen. He received his elementary, high school and university training in Germany, but emigrated to America with his parents in 1874, coming to Wadsworth, Ohio.

Pastor and Editor

He served as pastor of various Mennonite churches in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois from 1874 to 1911, then became editor of Christlicher Bundesbote until 1929. In 1920 he was called to edit also the German Sunday school quarterlies for the General Conference, which work he continued for another 20 years. He also served in a number of other capacities, such as secretary of the General Conference and member of the Board of Foreign Missions.

After the death of his first wife, the former Mary E. Knight, he was married to Elizabeth [sic] B. Ruth of Summerfield, Ill., June 18, 1912. She preceded him in death in 1934. He is survived by the following children: Karl, Decatur, Ind.; Mrs. J. F. Balzer, Crete Neb.; Mrs. C. D. Voran, Augusta, Kans.; Mrs. Frank Picket, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Mrs. W. C. Andreas, Beatrice, Neb.; Alwin, Marion, S. D.; Roland, Carson City, Nev., and Mrs. Harold Johnson, Huntington, Ind.

Funeral services were held Monday forenoon, July 3, in the chapel of the Bethel Home for Aged and at the First Mennonite church, conducted by Rev. J. E. Entz and Rev. D. J. Unruh. six Mennonite ministers served as casket bearers: Rev. J. R. Duerksen, Rev. J. M. Janzen, Rev. Abr. Albrecht, Rev. S. J. Goering, Rev. J. F. Sawatzky and Rev. J. J. Voth. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery.

The Mennonite obituary: 1950 Jul 18 p. 483