Krehbiel, Matilda Emilie Kruse (1867-1931)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1931 Apr 29 p. 4

Birth date: 1867 Mar 17

text of obituary:

Matilda E. Krehbiel

In Davidsfeld, South Russia, a Mennonite Country Estate, Matilda Emilie (Kruse) Krehbiel was born on March 17, 1867, the third child of Margaret Rupp of Lemberg, Poland and Adolph T. Kruse of Hamburg, Germany. For the first three years of her life she was weak and sickly, but, tenderly cared for by her mother, she at last gained health and strength.

When Russia began her policy of compulsory military service, father Kruse migrated in 1872 with his family of wife and four children to the United States, where for four years they lived in Newtown, Long Island, New York. In 1876 they joined the large settlements of Mennonites then forming in Kansas, locating at Halstead. Here the deceased attended the Sunday School and services of the Mennonite church, as well as the public schools. Under the godly home influence and devout guidance of her mother she early gave her heart to God, and at the age of thirteen years she was baptized on her confession of faith in Christ Jesus by Elder Christian Krehbiel and became a member of the Halstead Mennonite Church. When but fifteen years old she was drawn into Sunday School work as the teacher of a girls class.

In 1886 she was joined in the bonds of holy matrimony to Henry P. Krehbiel, and with him had her happy home in Halstead, Kansas. The home was brightened when in 1891 a daughter, Elva Agnes, was born to them. Another child, a son, Ariel was born in 1900, but to the sorrow of his parents lived but a few days. In 1892 the family removed to Oberlin, Ohio, where they resided for five years; then they lived for three years at Canton, Ohio, where she could supplement her husband as a pastor’s wife. In the fall of 1900 they again removed to Kansas, this time to Newton, where they have resided for thirty-one years.

Hers was a sympathetic heart. She wished for the Savior’s sake to do good to others, and loved to do thoughtful deeds of kindness unobserved. She performed well the difficult and often trying duties of a pastor’s wife. With much interest she shared the work of the Women’s Sewing Society of the First Mennonite Church in Newton and the Bethel Hospital Auxiliary. She loved to befriend the lonely, and had an especially warm heart for the aged ant [sic and] the feeble. A great friend of children, the little ones of the neighborhood loved to be about her home. Tenderness, gentleness, and affectionate good will marked her life and spread peace and sunshine wherever she was. She sought to make real in her life the love of Jesus, her Savior.

In the course of years her parents and her two brothers, H. O. Kruse and Adolph T. Kruse, had passed to heir [sic their] reward. There yet remained of the little family, so fondly attached to each other, her only sister, Mary, wife of J. W. Krehbiel. These sisters were lovingly and intimately attached to each other. When in October, 1930 this sister was called to her home above, the remaining one was deeply stricken with grief and began to fail in bodily strength and health. After receiving some medical treatment she appeared to rally. On March 26 she entered the hospital for treatment of an ailment which contrary to expectation grew steadily worse, and brought her intense suffering and agony. Yet she was patient and uncomplaining, trusting in the loving God that this affliction too must be for her best.

But though for a time it seemed the Lord would grant recovery it was ordained otherwise in the providence of Him, the author and sustainer of life. New and serious complications arose until pneumonia set in, and at three-thirty o’clock on Monday morning April 20, 1931 her faithful heart ceased beating, and peacefully she went to sleep. Her soul, released from the body, was free to be received by Jesus, her Savior, and given her home in the place prepared for her, that where Jesus is she might be also.

She leaves to mourn her departure her husband, one daughter, Elva Agnes Leisy, son-in-law E. E. Leisy and three grandchildren, Melvern Krehbiel, Margaret Ruth, and James Franklin Leisy, and a host of relatives and friends.

“If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Beloved, rest thou in the mansion prepared for you by thy Savior, Jesus Christ.

Funeral services were conducted on Friday April 24th, at the First Mennonite Church in Newton, Kansas. Words of comfort were spoken by Rev. J. E. Entz, who was in charge of the services, Rev. P. H. Unruh and Rev. C. E. Krehbiel, Rev. Bernhard Regier offered the closing prayer.