Krehbiel, Christian E. (1869-1948)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Jun 10 p. 5

Birth date: 1869 Sep 25

text of obituary:

. . .

— As the Review goes to press, word is received that Rev. C. E. Krehbiel, former president of the General Conference of the Mennonite Church of N. A., passed away sometime Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Jun 17 p. 1

text of obituary:

Former Editor and Conference President Called Away in Death

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR DR. C. E. KREHBIEL HELD AT NORTH NEWTON SATURDAY

Dr. C. E. Krehbiel, for six years president of the General Conference of Mennonites of N. A. and editor of its official German publication, Christlicher Bundesbote, died at his home north of Newton at 11:45 p. m. Wednesday, June 9.

Rev. Krehbiel had been in failing health during the past several years but appeared to have regained his normal strength a few months ago. He was around town earlier in the week, visited with relatives during the day and yet wrote a letter a few hours before his death.

Services in Memorial Hall

A large assembly of friends and relatives attended the funeral held in the Bethel College Memorial Hall Saturday afternoon. Rev. Lester Hostetler, pastor of the Bethel College congregation of which Rev. Krehbiel was a member, officiated. Dr. P. P. Wedel, Moundridge, also a former conference president, preached the funeral sermon and Dr. E. G. Kaufman, president of Bethel College, offered prayer. The body was taken to Halstead for interment.

Rev. Krehbiel was born in Summerfield, Ill., Sept. 25, 1869, the son of Rev. Christian and Susanna Krehbiel. With his parents, brothers and sisters he came to Halstead, Kansas early in his youth and resided there until he established his home in Newton about 47 years ago. In July, 1902, he married Mary Wirkler, who survives with their two children, Rev. Olin A. Krehbiel, Berne, Ind., and Mrs. Florence Harmon, Houston, Tex.

Wide Outreach of Service

After his preparatory education, he continued his training at the Presbyterian Theological seminary, Bloomfield, N. J., in 1898 and in the following year enrolled in the University of Berlin, Germany.

From 1901 to 1920 he was engaged in editorial work on Das Kansas Volksblatt, which later became Der Herold. During 1922 and 1923 he served as relief worker among the Mennonite colonists in Russia. He was ordained into the ministry in 1923 and in 1930 became editor of Christlicher Bundesbote. In 1940 he was elected president of the General Conference. Bethel College conferred the D. D. degree upon him in 1941.

He was a man of strong convictions, yet of a kindly and understanding spirit. Many hundreds here as well as in distant communities will long remember him as a faithful counselor and friend.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Jun 24 p. 3

text of obituary:

CHRISTIAN E. KREHBIEL

Christian E. Krehbiel, son of Rev. Christian and Susan (nee Ruth) Krehbiel, was born at Summerfield, Illinois on September 25, 1869. When he was nine years old the family removed to Halstead, Kansas where he grew up on a farm near town. He attended the Halstead public schools at a time when there were only two and later four rooms.

On April 3, 1887, he was baptized and joined the Halstead Mennonite church. Here he also attended the "Mennonite Preparatory School" for three years, and then studied for three years at the Kansas State Normal at Emporia, where he was graduated in 1897.

He taught one year in Halstead, whereupon he was elected by the Mennonite church there for the ministry. To prepare for this work he studied one year at the Presbyterian "Theological" seminary at Bloomfield, New Jersey, and five semesters at the University at Berlin, Germany, and traveled in Europe.

Returning home he felt constrained to request the church to release him, and in 1901 became secretary of the Western Book & Publishing Co., later the Herald Book and Publishing Co. of Newton, Kansas, remaining active in this firm for 19 years. During this time, having joined the Bethel College Mennonite church, he served for four years as Sunday School superintendent and for many years as deacon, holding membership in this church until his death.

On July 27, 1902, he was united in happy marriage with Mary A. Wirkler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chr. Wirkler of Newton. Two children, Olin and Florence, were born to this union.

Among other business activities he was a director of a hospital, three flour mills and other corporations, secretary of the Mennonite Charite for 23 years and superintendent of the Leisy Orphan Aid Society from 1910 to 1948.

In 1920 he withdrew from active commercial life, purposing to devote himself wholly to his Lord in Church work. In the following year he was asked to serve as field secretary of the General Conference of the Mennonite Church of North America, which position he held for 10 years, visiting practically all of the churches in the States and Canada. In 1922 he was requested by the Emergencey Relief Board of the Conference to go to Russia, and he spent a year helping to feed the persecuted and starving.

On December 2, 1923, he was ordained to the full ministry. From 1923 to 1926 he was chairman of the Board of Publication of the General Conference, and from 1926 to 1938 he served this Conference as secretary, statistician and in other offices, and from 1938 to 1945 he was president. The honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Bethel College in 1941.

In the fall of 1943 and 1944 he taught a short course in Mennonite Church Polity at Bethel College, and in 1945 a like course in the Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Chicago. In 1941 he was elected as a member of the Conference Mennonite Biblical Seminary Board and in 1945 of the Conference Home Mission Board, from which offices ill health caused him to resign in 1947. Three times he was elected as moderator of the Western District Conference and was honored with various other church offices.

Mr. Krehbiel did editorial work from 1901 to 1920; then for three years he edited the Young People's page in the Mennonite, and in September 1938 was chosen editor of the "Christlicher Bundesbote," the German weekly organ of the General Conference serving till Oct. 1946.

In February 1931 the church extension work in Wichita was placed in his care by the Home Mission Committee of the Western District, and the Sunday School and the church were organized, and the brick parsonage at Lorraine & Gilbert which served as a church until 1947 was erected. In April his son Olin became his associate and on February 24, 1935, was ordained and installed by him as his successor in Wichita. However, he and Mrs. Krehbiel continued to drive to Wichita every Sunday as they had been doing for over four years, assisting in the work that was a great joy and inspiration to them because of the kindness, loyalty and appreciation manifested by the Wichita members and friends.

While generally enjoying excellent health, three times he was a surgical patient at a hospital. In June 1935 he became suddenly ill, and the doctor advised a complete rest because of low blood pressure. By October he could again take up his numerous duties.

In February 1946 he was requested to serve the Eden Mennonite church near Moundridge for a year so as to enable Rev. Walter Gering, the pastor, to go as a relief worker to Europe. This was a joyous service, carried on by him and Mrs. Krehbiel with the fullest support of the church membership. On October 16, however, he became suddenly ill with a blood clot. Then in August of the following year he suffered a light stroke on the right side, and in October on the left side. These more and more reminded him that life here is transient and that through Christ we have an eternal home in heaven. He had regained considerable strength and made a good recovery following each of these sicknesses.

After an active day on June 9, 1948, he retired and just before midnight he quietly slipped away from this life to be at home with God. He attained the age of 78 years, eight months and 15 days.

Surviving are his wife, a son Olin of Berne, Indiana, a daughter Florence of Houston, Texas, and two grandchildren, Beverly and Ronald Krehbiel. Also, three brothers, Edward of New York City, Paul and Lucas of Halstead, and nieces and nephews survive.