Kliewer, Emma Ruth (1876-1935)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1935 Jan 2 p. 1

Birth date: 1876 Jan 17

text of obituary:

Mrs. J. W. Kliewer Is Called After Short Illness.

The entire community suffered a deep loss this morning in the death of Mrs. J. W. Kliewer, who passed away at the Bethel Hospital at about 4:00 o'clock. Although she was seriously ill since shortly after Christmas, her family and many friends had steadfastly hoped for her recovery.

Mrs. Kliewer suffered a severe attack of pneumonia about a week ago. She was taken to the Bethel Hospital where every possible effort was made to check the disease, which, however, proved unconquerable.

The departed is survived by her husband, Dr. J. W. Kliewer; two sons Carl of Salina, and Paul of Wichita; and one daughter Ruth of Berkeley, Calif.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon, at 2:00 o'clock at the home and at 2;30 at the Bethel College chapel. Interment will be in the Greenwood cemetery.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1935 Jan 9 p. 2

text of obituary:

Mrs. Emma Kliewer

Mrs. Emma Ruth Kliewer was born on January 17, 1876, near Halstead, Kansas, making her age at the time of her death, 58 years, 11 months and 15 days. She was the daughter of John W. Ruth and Elise Strohm Ruth, early Kansas pioneers. In spite of pioneer conditions her parents could give all of their children educational facilities beyond the ordinary grade schools. Emma did some academy work at Halstead Mennonite Academy and later entered Bethel College for two years.

She grew up in a definitely religious atmosphere. Her father was deacon in the Mennonite church of Halstead, Kansas. During some years of the service of Mr. Ruth as deacon, the church was without a pastor. Mr. Ruth got a great deal of satisfaction out of the thought that for every Sunday of that pastorless period, services could be arranged. Perhaps it was partly this home influence that developed in her that loyal response to every opportunity of service to home and church that was such an outstanding characteristic of the departed.

These early home influences fog [sic] a religious life were continued under the unusually able preaching of the Reverends Christian Krehbiel and David Goerz. She responded to these appeals by definitely deciding for the Christina life and uniting with the Mennonite Church in Halstead, Kansas.

On October 30, 1902, she was united in marriage to J. W. Kliewer, at that time pastor of the Mennonite Church at Wadsworth, Ohio. The following year they moved to Berne, Indiana, where their three children were born, Karl now connected with the Western Star Mill at Salina, Kansas; Ruth attending school at Berkeley, Calif., and Paul, with the Federal Land Bank in Wichita, Kansas.

Mrs. Kliewer lived a life of unselfish devotion to her public and private duties. She gave herself to the limit of her strength, and often rendered service beyond what was best for her because of her enfeebled health. She did this without any ostentation and it was therefore often difficult even for those nearest to her to evaluate her efforts to the full.

Almost from early adult life she was troubled with migraine headaches which brought her great pain and general distress. later an annoying bronchial cough developed. Fearing tubercular complications, she was subjected to repeated examinations, which always proved negative. It can scarcely be doubted, however, that these ailments lessened her resistance when the final disease came.

On Christmas Eve, soon after she returned from the Christmas program of the Bethel College church Sunday School which she enjoyed with evident satisfaction, she was seized by a violent chill. The next morning she remained in bed, coming down only for the gift giving, in which she took part while reclining on the davenport.

The family thought her case was a recurrence of one of her frequent spells of headaches and was not alarmed as it should have been. When later the physician was called, the case was pronounced pleurisy, which later developed into pneumonia, after being removed to Bethel Hospital o Saturday morning. She appreciated the loving care by the Sisters and spoke of it often as long as he strength permitted speaking.

On Sunday afternoon an oxygen tent was obtained to aid respiration, which gave her some relief and would likely have carried her through the crisis, but due to her weakened condition she was unable to rally sufficiently.

She bore her burden uncomplainingly, the again and again she would heave a sigh that betokened extreme weariness. Once as her husband put his head under the oxygen tent to visit with her a moment, she said, "It takes so long", "What takes so long, to get well?" she was asked. "No, for the end to come", she answered wearily. The psalm was quoted to her that promises the Lord will be with us even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. "Yes", she answered. "We know He will be with us."

At a few minutes past four o'clock on the morning of January 2, she passed into the Heavenly Home where there is rest.

She is survived by her husband and the children, one daughter-in-law, one brother, Ed of Arcadia, California; and three sisters, Mrs. Clara Haury, of the College Campus; Mrs. Anna Kruse, and mrs. D. C. Welty, both of Los Angeles, California. These with many relatives and friends in different states and on several continents mourn her loss, but they know that since to live was Christ to her, to die is fain. — The Family.

Funeral services were held at the home and at the Bethel College Mennonite church Saturday afternoon. Rev. C. E. Krehbiel had charge of the service at the home at 2:00 o'clock. At the service at the Bethel College chapel Dr. E. G. Kaufman preached the sermon, while Rev. Logan Martin of the Christian church read the Scripture passage and led in prayer. Rev. J.J. Voth read the obituary and pronounced the benediction. Music was given by the Bethel College church choir. Rev. S. M Musselman of Pretty Prairie conducted the services at the cemetery.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1935 Jan 9 p. 4

text of obituary:

LOCAL

. . .

— The funeral for Mrs. J. W. Kliewer, who died at the Bethel Hospital last Wednesday morning, was held Saturday afternoon. The service at the home at two o'clock was in charge of Rev. C. E. Krehbiel, while the service at the Bethel College chapel at 2:30 o'clock was in charge of Rev. E. G. Kaufman, assisted by Rev. Logan Martin of the Christian church. The service was attended by a large gathering of friends and relatives of the departed, by whom her serviceful life will always be a cherished memory. The interment was made in Greenwood cemetery.

---

The Mennonite obituary: 1935 Apr 16 p. 22
text of obituary:

The Homegoing of Mrs. Emma Ruth Kliewer

I have reasons to believe that there are many friends of my sainted wife who would be interested in the details of her homegoing. I am sending a personal statement for such friends.

As her friends know, she had not been in robust health for a number of years. Periodic attacks of migraine headaches caused her excruciating pain. Specialists consulted, gave her the desponding information that there was no absolute cure for her ailment, but that it would simply have to run its course. She was further annoyed by a bronchial cough that made us all fear tubercular complications, but that proved negative each time it was subjected to an examination.

On the evening of December 24, she attended the Christmas program of the Bethel College Church Sunday School, and showed all evidence of enjoying it. Shortly after her return from the program her family saw signs of her not being well. She complained of violent chills, but retired with the remark that undoubtedly one of her headache spells was approaching.

The next morning (Christmas morning) she remained in bed, but came into the living room where she reclined on a couch while the presents were being distributed in the family, who were all present except the daughter, Ruth, who was in Berkeley, California, in school.

Two days later the physician pronounced her case pleurisy. The next two days brought an increase in the severity of her case and she was taken to the Bethel Hospital. The next day she was put under an oxygen tent to increase her chance to fight pneumonia which had set in. She showed appreciation of the treatment that the doctor and the Sisters gave her.

Uncomplainingly she bore her affliction to the end. When her husband at one time put his head under the tent and asked her how she was, she answered, “I am so tired, and it takes so long!” She was asked, “Do you mean it takes so long to get well"? She replied, ‘‘No, it takes so long for the end to come.” Her attention was then called to the 23rd Psalm just read, with the remark that the Good Shepherd will be with us even if we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. ‘‘Yes, he will be with us.” she answered.

Less than nine days after she went down with her last sickness, she fell asleep in the Lord. She passed away early in the morning of January 2, 1935, at the age of 58 years, 11 months, 15 days.

J. W. Kliewer.