Reimer, Thomas U. (1890-1948)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Oct 21 p. 5

Birth date: 1890 Apr 30

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Nov 4 p. 3

text of obituary:

THOMAS U. REIMER

Thomas U. Reimer, son of Abraham and Helena Unruh Reimer, was one of a pair of twins born on April 30, 1890, on a farm in Marion Co., near Goessel, Kansas. The twin sister, Sarah, lived to be only ten months old. Young Thomas received his elementary education in the Pleasant Valley and Green Valley schools near his home. Later he entered the Preparatory School in Goessel for a year's study.

On June 4, 1911, at the age of 21, Thomas was baptized by the Elder H. J. Banman, thus becoming a member of the Alexanderwohl church. Here he retained his membership throughout his life.

The marriage ceremony uniting Thomas and Katharina S. Voth was performed by the Rev. P. H. Unruh in the Alexanderwohl church on April 28, 1916. The couple made their home on a farm just west of the church. Here they spent their entire wedded life of 32 and one-half years. Four children were adopted into the Reimer family: Bertha and Edward at the ages of six and three, respectively: and Elda and Rosella in their infancy. Two of these children have preceded their father in death: Elda, in 1924, at the age of 9 months; and Bertha, Mrs. Jake Ratzlaff, in 1944, at the age of 28 years.

His devotion to the Christian way of life was expressed by Thomas in his attitude to the church, in activities of love and fellowship, in his relationships to his family, and through his life-long occupation as a careful, diligent farmer. His life was one uninterrupted by illness, and he was still at work doing the chores, as the candle of his life was suddenly extinguished on Sunday evening, October 17, 1948, at approximately 6:30 o'clock. Failing to return from the pasture where he had gone in search of an escaped bull, he became the object of a frantic search by neighbors and friends of the surrounding community. He was found not far from his home, where he had fallen when a heart attack occurred.

Mourning his sudden departure are his wife, Katharina; two children, Edward, of Canton, Kansas; and Rosella, a music student in the Westminster Choir College, Princeton. New Jersey; one daughter-in-law; one son-in-law and his wife; five grandchildren; one brother; four sisters, as well as a large number of brothers-and sisters-in-law, and friends of the immediate family. Two brothers, as well as the twin sister and the two daughters previously mentioned, preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held in the Alexanderwohl Mennonite church, Goessel, Kansas, at 2:00 p. m., Wednesday, October 20, with Rev. P. A. Wedel in charge. Music was given by the Bethel College A Cappella Choir, as well as by a men's quartet from the church. Burial was made in the family lot of the church cemetery.

The Mennonite obituary: 1948 Nov 16 p. 2