Krehbiel, Christian (1832-1909)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1909 May 6 p. 4
Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1909 Jun 10 p. 4
The Mennonite obituary: 1909 May 6 p. 1

Birth date: 1832 Oct 18

The Mennonite obituary: 1909 Jun 10 p. 4

text of obituary:

✝ Rev. Christian Krehbiel ✝

On Oct. 18, 1832, Christian Krehbiel was born at Weierhof, Rheinpfalz, Germany, and died April 30, 1909, having reached the age of 76 years, 6 months and 12 days.

When the deceased was 11 years old his father's family moved to Bavaria and 7 years later with many others came to America where they first settled in Ohio.

Within less than a year the deceased traveled further west to Franklin Center, Iowa. On March 14, 1858, he was married to Susan Ruth. In March 1860 these young people removed to Summerfield, Ill. Four years later Bro. Krehbiel was elected to the ministry and a little later to the eldership, being ordained by Elder John Schmidt, whom he assisted in the work until the latter died.

After a residence of exactly 19 years the family left Summerfield and went to Kansas locating near Halstead, where the deceased spent the remained of his life. He had already organized a church at this place and after his arrival he became elder of the same holding this position until the end.

He was an active participant in the building up of the Mennonite school at Halstead, as he had been in the case of the school at Wadsworth, Ohio; he was president of the Foreign Mission Board for 28 years.

From 1886 — 1896 he had an Indian Mission school on his farm and already in 1893 he began taking orphan children into the home. Later the Orphan Aid Society was founded to provide for such children. The deceased was also active in the organization and management of the Mennonite Charite recently organized.

On Sunday, January 31, 1909, after having preached in the morning, Rev. Krehbiel received a stroke of paralysis in the afternoon. This robbed him of his power of speech and for awhile disabled his right side. However, after a few weeks he seemed to rally and hopes were entertained of seeing him restored, but it was intended otherwise! On April 28 a heavy door wrenched from the granary by the wind was thrown upon him with fatal results. Two days later he died after having called all present to the bedside to bide them farewell and to murmur a benediction. All the members of the family were present except one son, Edward, who could not arrive from Chicago in time after a delayed telegram reached him.

On Sunday, May 2nd, the funeral services were held. The family service was held in the forenoon. In the afternoon then was a brief service at the house. The main service was held at the Mennonite church where words of comfort, respect and hope were spoken by the Revs. D. Goerz, Gustav Harder and J. H. Langenwalter in Germrn [sic] and Rev. Oliver in English.

The Mennonite obituary: 1959 Aug 4 p. 473-474