Voth, Cornelius H. (1883-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Apr 1 p. 3

Birth date: 1883 Apr 8

text of obituary:

Retired Minister Dies in Car Crash

Hesston, Kan.—A two-car crash on ice-slick US-81 north of here the morning of March 24 claimed the life of Rev. C. H. Voth, 87, retired minister of the Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church near Inman.

Funeral services were held at the Hoffnungsau Church on Saturday afternoon with Rev. Dick Rempel, the pastor, officiating.

Rev. Voth was a passenger in a car driven by his daughter, Mrs. Harold Buller of Burrton, when it skidded out of control on the highway, made slick by an overnight snow. The Buller auto was hit on the right side by one driven by Jane F. Krehbiel, 21, of Pretty Prairie, a student at Bethel College.

Rev. Voth was pronounced dead on arrival at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton. Mrs. Buller and Miss Krehbiel were admitted to the same hospital for treatment of injuries, Mrs. Buller having sustained a knee fracture.

Rev. Voth was a lifelong resident of the Buhler and Inman communities, and in recent years had lived at Pleasant View Home, Inman. He leaves his widow; sons Elmer of Inman and Milton of Buhler; two daughters, Mrs. Buller and Mrs. Ben Ediger of Inman; a brother, George, of Inman; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Jul 8 p. 11

text of obituary:

REV. C. H. VOTH

Cornelius H. Voth was born to Johann and Helena Nachtigal Voth on a farm east of Buhler, Kan. on April 8, 1883. He passed away March 24, 1971, just two weeks before his 88th birthday.

He had seven brothers and two sisters. His only surviving brother, George, lives on a farm near Inman.

Starting his education at Buhler Grade School, he continued at German Bible School taught by Rev. J. R. Duerksen and also attended the Reno County Teachers Institute in Nickerson. For three years he taught grade school west of Inman.

Throughout his life he was deeply involved in the life and work of the church. On June 1, 1903, upon his confession of Christ as Saviour and Lord, he was baptized by Elder Abraham Ratzlaff and joined the fellowship of the Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church. His strength of faith and fundamental trust in the Scriptures were clear and unapologetic till the end.

He married Elizabeth Sperling, who was also a member of the Hoffnungsau Church, on Nov. 7, 1907. Mother was a continuous source of encouragement in his work and ministry during their 63 years of married life. Mother and dad had the joy of special celebrations on their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries. They were blessed with three sons and two daughters: Elmer and wife Linda; Eleanor and husband Ben; Irvin, who died from illness at age six; Milton; and Verna and husband Harold. They also experienced the joys of ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

In 1908 together with other young couples mother and dad moved to Syracuse, Kan. and later to Plains, Kan. where they hoped to make their living through farming. During this time dad had a severe attack of typhus. Because of the difficulties of making a living in western Kansas, mother and dad moved back to central Kansas in 1915. They moved onto Grandfather Sperling's farm northeast of the Hoffnungsau Church where they lived for 35 years until they retired from farming and moved to Buhler in 1950. They lived in Buhler for 20 years and about four months ago, along with Milton, moved to the Pleasant View Home in Inman.

Dad was always active in the community and the church. He served on the Sparta School Board for a number of years. He taught a number of Sunday school classes and served as Sunday school superintendent. On Dec. 10, 1922, he was chosen to serve in the ministry of the Hoffnungsau Church. He worked together with a number of pastors in the ministry for 37 years. He preached many sermons over the years. His basic source of wisdom was the Bible which he often interpreted with everyday illustrations from his life experience. Dad represents the end of an era in the history of the Hoffnungsau Church. He was the last lay minister to be chosen from within the congregation.

He was greatly concerned for the welfare of his children and grandchildren, often expressed in his family prayers and revealed in his concern for Milton. The church was also always central to his life. He was especially committed to serving the everyday needs of the congregation by entering into their joys and sorrows. After retirement from this active ministry, his concern for the work of Christ continued until his death.—The Family.

The Mennonite obituary: 1971 Apr 20 p. 267