Kornelsen, George C. (1894-1961)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Mar 9 p. 6

Birth date: 1894 Feb 25

text of obituary:

. . .

— George C. Kornelson [sic Kornelsen], 67, a retired farmer and resident of the Inman community most of his life, died at the Salem hospital in Hillsboro Sunday morning. He had been ill several years. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Zoar church near Inman. Mr. Kornelson [sic Kornelsen] was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in McPherson. Surviving are his wife and three children: Mrs. Wm. Johnson and Mrs. Vernon Friesen, Hillsboro, and Mrs. Ernie Duerksen, Denver.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Apr 6 p. 8

text of obituary:

GEO. C. KORNELSEN

George C. Kornelsen, son of G. F. and Elizabeth Schierling Kornelsen, was born Feb. 25, 1894 at Inman, Kan. He went home to be with the Lord while a patient in the Salem Hospital, Hillsboro, Kan., at 12:45 Sunday morning, March 5, 1961, at the age of 67 years and eight days.

He spent his early childhood on a farm, received his elementary education in the local country school, and attended the Zoar Academy and Bible School.

At the age of nine years he realized his lost condition and placed his faith in the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted Him as his personal Savior. At the age of 15 he was baptized on Dec. 5, 1909 by Elder Johann Esau, and became a member of the Zoar K.M.B. Church at Inman.

While farming in western Kansas he felt the call of God to go into Christian service. In preparation he enrolled in Tabor College to continue his education. He graduated from the academy course in 1923 and continued the next year in college preparing for teaching.

He married Sara Harms on July 31, 1921 in the Springfield Church near Lehigh, and established a home in Hillsboro. They shared joys and sorrows for nearly 40 years. To this union were born three daughters.

He enjoyed his services as a public school teacher near Greensburg, Kan. for two years, 1924-1926. Various other occasions gave him opportunities to serve the Lord, which gave him a joy and satisfaction that he was fulfilling his calling to the ministry.

While teaching near Greensburg, he was afflicted with epilepsy. This stayed with him for 30 years, impairing his opportunities to serve in the way that he would have liked, and causing him and his family to move back to Hillsboro, and in 1930 to his father's farm southwest of Inman. In 1943 they moved to their own farm two and one-fourth miles south of Inman where they lived and farmed until 1956.

Although medical aid was widely sought, no alleviation of the illness could be found, but in 1953 he received miraculous healing by the power of God through prayer and faith in Him. In 1954 he transferred his church membership to the First Assembly of God Church of where he received much joy in fellowshiping with the believers there.

In 1956 they moved to Inman where they lived until his death. On Sunday, Feb. 12, he was admitted to the Salem Hospital at Hillsboro to seek relief from the pain caused by sores on his face and neck. During the three weeks' stay in the hospital, he suffered intensely but remained rational until the last day. His faith in God never wavered.

He leaves to mourn his departure, his wife, Sara Kornelsen of Inman; three daughters and three sons-in-law, Georgina and husband William J. Johnson, and Rachel and husband Vernon Friesen, all of Hillsboro, and Betty May and husband, Ernest Dirks of Denver, Colo.; seven grandchildren; his mother, Mrs. G. F. Kornelsen of Inman; three brothers and three sisters, Mrs Anna Peters of Inman, Mrs. Agnes Peters of Greensburg, Mrs. Elizabeth Friesen of Meade, Wm. Kornelsen of Minneola, Abe S. of Salina, and Jake S. of Inman, and many relatives and friends. One grandson, Galen Lee Friesen, and his father, G. F. Kornelsen, preceded him in death.

We mourn not as though we have no hope, because we know that his present joy in eternity is far greater than any this world could offer, and we know that this same joy is awaiting all those who put their trust in the Savior. — Mrs. George C. Kornelsen and Family.