Heidebrecht, Henry A. (1864-1951)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Dec 20 p. 3

Birth date: 1864 Nov 22

text of obituary:

Three Kansas Pioneers Called by Death

ALL THREE WERE AMONG EMIGRANTS FROM RUSSIA IN 1870'S

Inman, Kansas. — Two pioneer Mennonite settlers of this community were called by death on succeeding days last week. Both were born in Russia and came to this country in the migrations of the 1870's.

Funeral services were held at the Hoffnungsau Mennonite church Monday afternoon for Henry A. Heidebrecht, 87, retired farmer who passed away at his home on Dec. 14. He came to this country at the age of nine, and had lived in the Inman community 57 years.

Survivors include two daughters, five sons, 28 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, two brothers and two sisters.

Mrs. Katherina J. Reimer, who was born in Russia June 21, 1863, and came to this community 75 years ago, died at the Bethesda hospital, Goessel, on Dec. 15. She was a member of the Inman Mennonite church where funeral services were to be held Wednesday afternoon.

Mrs. Reimer is survived by two daughters, two sons, 16 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, seven brothers and one sister.

Klaus W. Toews

Windom, Kans. — Funeral services were held at the Zion Church of God in Christ, Mennonite for Klaus W. Toews, retired farmer and a long-time resident of Windom who passed away at the McPherson hospital on Dec. 15. He came to the U.S. from Russia when a child.

Survivors in the immediate family are his wife, Agnes, three daughters, two sons, 24 grandchildren and eight [great] grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Dec 27 p. 9

text of obituary:

HENRY A. HEIDEBRECHT

Henry A. Heidebrecht, son of Rev. Peter and Elizabeth Nachtigal Heidebrecht, was born November 22, 1864, in Waldheim, South Russia. He departed this life on Friday, December 14, 1951, at about 7:15 in the morning. he reached the high age of 87 years and 22 days, having exceeded the Biblical "three score years and ten" age by a little over 17 years.

During the time of the large emigration from Russia to America in 1874, he too joined his parents in the trek across the ocean to seek a new home here. He was nine years of age at the time. Together with his parents they settled near Inman, Kansas, just into the field to the north and west of the present Hoffnungsau church building site. Here he lived with his parents his childhood days, conquering the prairies, building homes, churches and schools, and soon converting the wild prairies into well built and productive farm homes.

Here too he attended the Sparta school. His total days of English schooling numbered three months, or less that 90 days, though to hear him express himself in the English language one would not have guessed that his days in the English schoolroom had been so few. He read much, and through reading and conversation with English speaking neighbors and businessmen he acquired a remarkable mastery of the language.

At the age of 21 he found his Saviour. Following a period of catechetical instruction he was baptized upon his confession of faith in Jesus Christ as his person Saviour. Rev. Dietrich Gaeddert, then elder of the Hoffnungsau Mennonite church, baptized him and he united with the Hoffnungsau church where he remained a faithful and active member throughout the days of his life.

He loved the church, and felt the need of it for his personal life. His faith was strong, and his was an active faith; he believed that to be a member of a church one also owed certain responsibilities to the church. For a number of years he was Sunday School superintendent; for another and even longer number of years he served as Sunday School teacher. He was used in the "Behorde of the Kirchhof Gesellschaft," and on the Board of Trustees, as well as on other responsible boards and committees. He helped to build three church buildings for the Hoffnungsau congregation, and saw each of these completed and dedicated.

He was also active in civic affairs. In the Big Lake school district where he lived most of his married life, he served on the school board for 33 years. Similarly he was used in township boards and in other positions of responsibility in civic life.

On January 8, 1892, having found a helpmeet, he was united in marriage to Katharina Thiessen. With her he was privileged to share 56 years of the joys and sorrows of married life. To this union were born nine children, one of whom was stillborn, and one, Bertha, Mrs. H. R. Neufeld, preceeded [sic] him in death in 1927. Seven children are still living. They are: Lizzie, Mrs. J. W. Wiens, of Inman; Herman P., of Inman; Katie, Mrs. Dan P. Wiens, of Inman; Ben L., of Neosho Falls; Peter D. of McPherson; Jacob R. and Ernest P. of Inman.

In 1942 it was the privilege of the parents to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary together with their children and grandchildren. This was a joyous occasion for them. Five years later the 55th anniversary was observed, when Mrs. Heidebrecht's health was already failing. Only one year later, in January of 1948, she was taken from his side after 56 years of married life together. This left him a very lonesome father; he missed her greatly. Life held much less for him after this experience, and he found enjoyment largely in his children and grandchildren.

Throughout his life he has enjoyed good physical health; outside of a serious illness in 1908, he was of robust health, and able to do much hard work. His failing health came only in recent months, and largely within the last year when his heart became noticeably weak. He consulted medical doctors, but his time was running out, as he himself often remarked. He was hospitalized for short periods of time, but his recovery was only temporary. He longed to go to his Eternal Home, where the care and burdens of this world would be no more. His last years were spent with his children and the later months with his eldest daughter, where loving care was given to the very end. On Friday morning, Dec. 14, after days of rather acute but patient suffering, he quietly breathed his last at about 7:15 o'clock.

He leaves to mourn his departure the seven children; twenty-eight grandchildren, and thirteen great grandchildren; two brothers, A. Q. Heidebrecht of Burrton, and David Heidebrecht of Buhler; two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Janzen, of the Goessel Home for the Aged, and Mrs. Katharina Buller of Orienta, Oklahoma. Besides these there are many relatives and a host of friends.

We mourn, yet not as those who have no hope, for we know that he has gone to be with his Lord and Master.