Wiebe, Gerhard (1844-1923)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1923 Nov 15 p. 6

Birth date: 1844

text of obituary:

Wiebe. — Gerhard Wiebe wurde geboren den 9. Mai 1844 in dem Dorfe Freienhuben, in Preußen. Seine Eltern waren Johann und Margarethe Wiebe, geb. Hamm.

Bis zu seinem 12. Lebensjahre war er in seinem Elternhnause und genoß Schulunterricht von Hauslehrerinnen und später von einem Hauslehrer.

Im 12. Lebensjahre schickten die Großeltern ihn nach Marienburg zur lateinischen Schule auf vier Jahre, in dieser Zeit war er bei dem Cousin der Großmutter, Onkel Peter Hamm in Pension. Im Jahre 1861 wurde er von seinem Vater getauft. In seinem 16. Lebensjahre trat er als Lehrling in das Geschäft von August Momber, Danzig; später ging er in ein größeres Geschäft in Berlin.

Im Jahre 1869 wanderte er nach Rußland aus, um unserm mennonitischen Bekenntnis treu zu bleiben, da in Deutschland allgemeine Wehrpflicht eingeführt worden war. Mehrere Glieder seiner Familie zogen in diesem Jahre nach Rußland bei Samara, wo mennonitische Kolonien angesiedelt wurden. Im Jahre 1872 kamen auch die Großeltern mit den noch zurückgebliebenen Geschwistern in die Samarasche Kolonien.

Im Jahre 1874 trat er in den Ehestand mit Margarethe Claassen. 10 Kinder schenkte ihnen der Herr, von denen vier noch im zarten Kindesalter starben. Seine Gattin starb im Jahre 1890 und hinterließ den tieftrauernden Gatten nebst sechs Kindern, das jüngste von diesen 9 Tage alt.

Vier Jahre nach der Gattin Tode, im Jahre 1894, wanderte er nebst seinen Kindern und seinem Bruder Herman Wiebe und dessen Familie nach Amerika, Beatrice, Nebr., aus.

Im Jahre 1898 gründete er mit seinen Söhnen das jetzt noch bestehende Geschäft. Ein Asthmaleiden, welches ihm viele Jahre seine Arbeit erschwerte, verursachte, daß er sich schon verhältnismäßig frühe vom Geschäft zurückzog.

Nachdem die Kinder alle das Vaterhaus verlassen hatten, löste er seinen Haushalt auf im Jahre 1918 und zog zu seinen Kindern, wo er dann fünf Jahre wohlversorgt gelebt hat. In den Wintermonaten des Jahres 1922 und 23 nahm seine Schwäche mit raschen Schritten zu, sein Catarrh-Leiden hatte sich in Halskrebs entwickelt, er konnte sich schlecht selbst bedienen, so war es sein Wunsch, in unser Hospital überzusiedeln, hatte er doch an dem Bau und der Entwickelung dieser Anstalt stets ein reges Interesse bezeugt, auch später noch, als er seines Leidens wegen sich von aller aktiven Arbeit im Direktorium zurückziehen mußte.

Den 19. Juni 1923 ging er in das Hospital. Gott bewahrte ihm seine geistige Frische und rege Teilnahme an allem, was in seinem Verwandtenkreise und in der Gemeinde vorging bis zuletzt. Montag, den 29. Okt., hatte er einen Schwächeanfall; er wurde schwindelig und fiel, wobei er sich empfindlich stieß. Von der Zeit an nahm seine Kraft schnell ab. Er entschlief sanft bei vollem Bewußstsein, den 1. November, im Alter von 79 Jahren, 5 Monaten und 22 Tagen. Es betrauern seinen Fortgang zwei Söhne, vier Töchter, zwei Schweigertöchter, drei Schwiegersöhne, vierzehn Großkinder, Nichten und Neffen.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1923 Nov 6 p. 2

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The Mennonite obituary: 1923 Nov 15 p. 7

text of obituary:

(A tribute from his children to the memory of a beloved father.)

Wiebe—Our father, Gerhard Wiebe, Sr., was born in Prussia, Germany, on the 9th of May, 1844. He was the son of John and Margarethe Wiebe. Soon after his birth, his parents, who kept a country store, changed their location and became farmers. Grandfather later was chosen preacher of the congregation and a year later became elder of the church. At the age of 17 years father was baptized upon the confession of his faith by his own father, and so became a member of the Mennonite church. From his twelfth year father was away from home, only returning for short intervals. He attended school in Marienburg, Prussia, for four years. Nine years were spent in the various department stores, in the cities of Marienburg, Danzig and Berlin, learning the trade. In the year 1869, he, with a number of relatives, emigrated to Samara, Russia, near the Volga river, where the Mennonites were organizing a number of colonies, having left their native country, Germany, on account of the national enforcement of the law in regard to taking up arms, which is not in accord with the principles of the faith of our fathers. Here, father entered a department store in Samara, and in about one year became sufficiently acquainted with the Russian language to enable him to organize a small business with the help of his younger brother, Herman Wiebe. Under God's blessing, the business flourished and soon they built a large brick building which accommodated both their business and their families. Father married Margarethe Claassen in the year 1874. The Lord blessed this union with ten children, four of whom died in infancy. Mother died in the year 1890, and left father with six children, the youngest being only nine days old. Since that time he had to take the place of both parents in providing for his children and caring for them until they were grown and able to provide for themselves.

The Russian Government did not offer the religious freedom the Mennonites had expected, and so, in the year 1894, father, his brother Herman Wiebe and their families, emigrated once more, prompted by their consciences in matters of their faith. They located in Beatrice, Nebraska, where father started the dry-goods business, assisted by his two sons, Gerhard and William. This was in 1898. Poor health led him to retire from business, however, while still comparatively a young man. In 1903 it was his privilege to make a visit to his relatives in Germany and Russia, one of his daughters going with him on this trip. In 1910, with two of his daughters, he spent the winter in California, but the change of climate had slight benefit for his health. In 1918 he disposed of his house and made his home with his son William with whom he lived for five years care-free and well provided for. His ailment and advanced age made professional care a continual necessity and so, in 1923, he was taken to the Mennonite Deaconess Home and Hospital, where on the 1st of November he breathed his last. The hospital had always been a matter of personal concern with him. He had helped to organize it, and so long as his health permitted he served on its Board of Managers. In spite of his physical condition father retained his mental activity to the last and ever remained a sympathetic parent and friend.

He often spoke of and longed for his departure and prayed that the Lord, Who had so wonderfully blessed him with His abiding love and grace, especially in the last months of his life, would see fit to call him home. He was able to attend church service the last two Sundays before his death, although during the last year he had seldom been able to do so. He frequently, during his illness repeated: "Oh, how glorious", beside giving other evidences of his readiness to meet his Redeemer face to face. His age was 79 years, 5 months, 22 days. He is survived by two sons, Gerhard and William and their families, and his daughters, Mrs. H. A. Penner, Omaha, Nebraska, Mrs. Henry Boehr, Wisner, Nebraska, Mrs. P. Dan. Schultz, Wichita, Kan., and their families and Sister Magdalene Wiebe, of the Deaconess Mennonite Home and Hospital, Beatrice, Nebr. His grandchildren number fourteen and there are also a number of nephews and nieces in both this country and Russia.