Peters, Peter J. (1890-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Jun 28 p. 6

Birth date: 1890 Jul 4

text of obituary:

. . .

— Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the First Mennonite Church of Hillsboro for Peter J. Peters, who died in the Salem Hospital there June 21. He would have reached his 66th birthday on July 4. Mr. and Mrs. Peters lived in North Newton until about a year ago, and both were employed in the Bethel College Memorial Hall for a number of years. Surviving in addition to Mrs. Peters are seven children, Rev. A. M. Peters of Burrton, Rev. Gerh. Peters of Burns, Edna of Attica, Mrs. Harold Friday of Peabody, Mrs. Harry Funk of Marion, Harvey of Marion and Ralph of Hillsboro, as well as 19 grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Jul 19 p. 8

text of obituary:

PETER J. PETERS

Peter J. Peters was born July 4, 1890 to Mr. and Mrs. John Peters, at Bradshaw, Neb. He passed on from this world into the next on June 21, at 3 p. m., at the Salem Hospital in Hillsboro, Kan. He reached the age of 65 years, 11 months and 17 days.

He was married on Oct. 1, 1912 to Maria Peters at the Bethel Mennonite church of Mt. Lake, Minn. They were united in holy matrimony by Rev. H. H. Regier and enjoyed this fellowship for 43 years. To this union nine children were born, Dietrich, Abraham, Gerhard, Edna, Elsie, Verna, Harvey, Ralph and Norma. Dietrich and Norma preceded him in death.

When he was three years old his father passed away. He and his younger brother were reared by their mother. As he grew older it became his responsibility to care for his mother, since his younger brother died at the age of 16. In 1918 with his family he moved from Nebraska, where his mother had been living, to a farm seven miles north of Hillsboro.

On this place father suffered several serious casualties which brought him close to death. In 1921 his hand was caught in a corn binder and he lost two fingers. In 1923 he was struck by a train on the edge of Hillsboro, which totally demolished the car but he escaped with his life and had only cuts and bruises. Many adverse conditions confronted him in his life — but he always had God as his guide and received great strength in all situations.

He was baptized upon his confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour on June 5, 1911 and poined [sic] the Bethesda Mennonite church of Henderson, Neb. Upon moving to Kansas, he and mother transferred their membership to the First Mennonite church of Hillsboro, Kan. in 1919. In 1947 they transferred to the Bethel College church and upon retiring and moving to Hillsboro they again joined the First Mennonite church, where he attended the worship services the last Sunday before his death.

He had the joy of knowing that all of his children and in-laws made a public confession of believing in Christ as their personal Saviour. It was also his joy to see two of his sons enter the ministry, one serving as deacon, and his other sons and sons-in-law taking active part in church leadership. His daughters and daughters-in-law have all been active as Sunday school teachers and in other active positions in the church. It was also his privilege to be present at the baptism of his oldest grandchild shortly before his death.

We as children are very grateful to mother for so faithfully taking care of father during the last two years of his illness. She was willing to sacrifice anything for his sake so that he could be comfortable.

He awaits at the door of the Heavenly Home, his wife; Abe and Martha Schmidt Peters and four children; Gerhard and Pauline Banman Peters and four children; Edna, Elsie and Harold Friday and two children; Verna and Harry Funk and three children; Harvey and Lillian Funk Peters and three children, and a host of relatives and friends.

Father has gone on before as he said many a time, "All at once I will be going home. We will never know when it may be the last time that I will go to the hospital."

We mourn his departing, for an empty place has been made in the home. But we rejoice that he has gone, and that he was ready to go, to the place where there is no more pan nor sorrow.

The funeral was conducted at the First Mennonite church of Hillsboro, Kan. with Rev. Elbert Koontz and Rev. D. C. Wedel officiating. Internment [sic] in the First Mennonite cemetery. Casketbearers: Wm. Knaak, John Rempel, John L. Regier, A. D. Friesen, A. E. Wiens, D. P. Ewert.

The Mennonite obituary: 1956 Jul 24 p. 472