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Warkentin, John Kroeker (1905-1975)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1975 May 8 p. 11
Birth date: 1905 Dec 19
text of obituary:
CHIROPRACTOR DIES
Corn, Okla. — Funeral services for Dr. J. K. Warkentin, 69, of Clinton were held at the Corn Mennonite Brethren Church on Thursday afternoon, Apr. 17. He died of an apparent heart attack on Apr. 14.
A native of Corn, he was a chiropractor by vocation but also pastored churches in the Corn area, in Texas and in California.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; a daughter, Greta, Mrs. ElVern Nikkel of Corn; two sons, James Karl of Fort Worth, Tex. and Timothy Michael of McLoud, Tex.; and six grandchildren.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1975 May 15 p. 8
text of obituary:
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Rev. J. K. Warkentin died April 14 in his office at Clinton, Okla. of a heart attack. He was born five miles southwest of Corn. When he was nine his father passed away and the family moved to Corn. As a young man he received the call of the Lord to go out and preach the Word. He had been pastor of our church here at corn as well as of the First Mennonite, Baptist and other churches in Oklahoma, Texas, and California. He had God's Word in his heart as well as in his memory.
— Corney J. Adrian
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1975 Jun 12 p. 11
text of obituary:
DR. J. K. WARKENTIN
John Kroeker Warkentin was born on Dec. 19, 1905, to Jacob E. and Gertrude (Kroeker) Warkentin on a farm four miles southwest of Corn, Okla.
On July 18, 1915, when he was nine years old, his fat her died leaving his mother and four young children. Later his mother was compelled to sell the farm at auction, after which she and the children moved to Corn to live with his grandparents, Jacob J. and Anna Kroeker.
After nine years his mother was married to Prof. John F. Duerksen, also a minister, who died seven years alter. His mother died on May 12, 1955.
As a nine-year-old boy he accepted the Lord as his personal Saviour. At age 12 he was baptized by Elder H. H. Flaming and received into the Corn Mennonite Brethren Church. Some years later he was ordained to the ministry by this same church, and subsequently returned to serve as its pastor.
Dad attended elementary school in Corn, graduated from the Corn Bible Academy and from Carver Chiropractic College in Oklahoma City. After he was called to the ministry he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
On Feb. 14, 1928, he married Loree Compton at Munday, Texas, where she was engaged in teaching. Four children were born to this union. A son, John Manaen, died in infancy.
Dad followed a call to the ministry in 1933 and delivered his first message on June 18 of that year. He became an accomplished student of the Bible, and was loved by many who found Christ as Savior through his ministry.
During his ministry he served as pastor of a number of churches in Oklahoma, Texas and California, and was engaged at times as an evangelist and Bible expositor in 13 states. While in the Mennonite Brethren denomination, he was moderator of two district conferences, member of the committee of reference and counsel, vice-chairman of the Tabor College board of education and secretary of the Sunday school convention.
In his later years he resumed full-time practice as a chiropractor while serving on Sundays as a minister-at-large and evangelist in Oklahoma and surrounding area. He also was active in the Gideons International. He was a member of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, United Fund Drive, and the Kiwanis Club.
After 37 years of married life, Dad's faithful companion in the Lord's service died on June 26, 1965. A year later he married Elizabeth Baergen.
In addition to his wife, he leaves to mourn one daughter, Greta Jo, and husband Elvern Nikkel of Corn; two sons, James Karl and wife Rita of Fort Worth and Timothy Michael and wife Beth of McCloud; six grandchildren; three sisters, Anna (Mrs. P. W. Duerksen) of Dinuba, Calif., Amanda (Mrs. Dave Kliever [sic Kliewer ) of Fort Worth, and Louise Junkin and husband Ben of Roswell, N. M. — The Family.
