Wall, John (1893-1974)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Jun 6 p. 11

Birth date: 1893 Apr 4

text of obituary:

JOHN WALL

John Wall, son of John P. and Katherine Balzer Wall, was born April 4, 1893 near the former Alta Mill in the Moundridge area of Harvey County, Kansas.

He received most of his grade school education at Liberty School and some at the Berlin School. He lived on the farm of his grandfather, Peter Wall, who later moved to Buhler and was minister of the Mennonite Brethren Church there.

He was saved at the age of 15 while attending revival services conducted at Liberty School by Rev. Frank F. Wiens from Nebraska, who later became a missionary in China. Two weeks later he was baptized by Elder Heinrich Adrian and received into the M. B. Church of Buhler.

After four years of helping at home on the farm, he attended Tabor College from 1915 to 1918. His interest in music and teaching was not to be fulfilled, as circumstances of crop failures changed his career.

On May 13, 1917 he was married to Louise E. Neufeldt or [sic] rural Inman in the Hebron Mennonite Church. Elder Abraham Shellenberg officiated, assisted by Rev. Abraham Martens. They farmed southeast of Inman for nine years.

In 1926 they moved to Ingalls, Kan. There they soon experienced hardships such as crop failures, hail storms and dust storms for the 1930s. Many people left but the Lord led them to stay. For 35 years the Lord used him to work with the American Sunday School Union.

In 1965 he became ill with cancer and was given only one year to live. He sold his small farm and moved back to Inman. In 1966 he and his wife entered the Pleasant View Home. After nine months he was again operated on for cancer in Hutchinson. This time it seemed the operation was a success and he miraculously improved.

The next five years were spent at the Pleasant View Home where he daily worked for the Lord in various ways and took care of his invalid wife.

On April 23, 1974 the workers at the home found him sitting in a chair, dead of a heart attack.

He leaves to mourn his widow, Louise; one adopted son, Gustave, of Colby, Kan., three sisters, Mrs. George Neufeldt, of Buhler, Martha Wall of Dinuba, Calif., and Mrs. Minnie Harder of Dinuba; and two brothers, Jacob of Orland, Calif. and Art of Reedley, Calif. Those preceding him in death were Peter J. Wall, two sisters, Mrs. Sam Unruh of Hillsboro and Mrs. Anna Harder of Santa Cruz, Calif.

Funeral services were held April 26 at the Hebron Mennonite Church in Buhler. He attained the age of 81.