Hartzler, Charles O. (1874-1948)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Sep 16 p. 3

Birth date: 1874 May 7

text of obituary:

CHARLES O. HARTZLER

Charles O. Hartzler was born May 7, 1874 near Gunn City, Missouri, and died at the age of 74 years three months and 21 days on August 28, 1948 exactly seven weeks after leaving home to spend a few months with a son and daughter at Jackson, Minnesota. He passed away at St. Mary's hospital in Minneapolis where he had gone on August 10 for medical examination and treatment. On August 25 a major operation was performed, and peritonitis developed which in a few days caused his death.

In his youth he accepted Christ as his Saviour and became a member of the Sycamore Grove church, near Garden City. Mo., and during his lifetime he remained loyal to his Christian faith and to the Church.

He was the last member of the David E. and Mary (Yoder) Hartzler family. On Jan. 9, 1898, he was married to Lydia Alice Yoder. This year, just one week before his wife's death, they, with the five children, celebrated their 50th anniversary at their home near Garden City, Mo., where he had lived for 67 years.

Although he was a man of few words, to know him was to love and respect him. He was honest and helpful in his dealings with his fellowmen, and he enjoyed life to the full, being, a lover of nature. He often experienced great trials and deep sorrows in life, but he bore them alone and without a word of complaint.

He leaves two daughters, Mrs. Ray (Beulah) Garber, Alpha, Minn., and Dorothy, who had so faithfully made a home for her father after the mother's death on Jan. 18 of this year; and three sons, Edward of Jackson, Minnesota, Rolla and Sherman of Garden City, Mo., all of whom were at his bedside at the time of his death. An infant son preceded him in death. He also leaves nine grandchildren, besides many other relatives and friends.

The funeral service was held at the Ray Garber home near Alpha, Minnesota on Sunday August 29, with Bro. Noah Landis in charge. A memorial fund given by Minnesota friends will be used for Puerto Rican mission work in honor of his nurse Bonita Landis Driver, formerly a worker in Puerto Rico, who so faithfully ministered to his needs during his severe illness.

The body was brought to Garden City, Mo. for interment in the Clearfork cemetery, after a service at the Sycamore Grove church on August 31 conducted by Bro. Raymond Hershberger, assisted by John A. Kauffman and S. S. Hershberger.

Music was rendered by a male quartet composed of Walter Yoder, E. E. Yoder, Albert Schrock, and Ira Zook. The casket bearers were Ira Hartzler, Reuben Yoder, B. J. Yoder, J. Roy Yoder, N. E. Yoder and R. I. Zook.

Those from a distance, besides the immediate families, attending the funeral were Menno Zook and Mr. and Mrs. John Kaiser, Cheraw. Colorado.

Sweetly rest, dear father.
With all the loved ones gone before;
And may we all prepare to meet you
On that peaceful, happy shore.