Banman, John H. (1875-1955)

Revision as of 20:31, 13 July 2016

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Sep 22 p. 8

Birth date: 1875 Oct 15

text of obituary:

John H. Banman, 79, a resident of Fresno, Calif., for three years, died in his home Aug. 31, 1955, following a long illness.

Memorial services were held in the Easterby Presbyterian Church of Fresno on Sept. 2, with Rev. Tryon Richards officiating. A private burial service was held in Belmont Memorial Park.

He was born Oct. 15, 1875, to Heinrich Banman, Mennonite teacher and minister, and Helena Buller Banman.

He was baptized May 24, 1896, and was a member of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church.

On Sept. 28, 1899, he was married to Agnes Voth, a union which lasted one month less than 56 years. To them were born five children, three of whom preceded their father in death.

He was educated in the Kansas rural schools and Bethel College, after which he taught three years in rural schools. After that he turned to farming as an occupation, living for a time in Kansas, Colorado, and Idaho. He was a member of the First Mennonite Church of Aberdeen, Idaho, serving for a time as Sunday School teacher and deacon.

In 1935 the family moved to Davis, Calif., where he joined the Presbyterian Church. He continued as a faithful church member in Avenal, Calif., and in Lakeview, Oregon, where they lived for a time. In 1952 the family moved to Fresno where he became a charter member of the Easterby Presbyterian Church of which his son-in-law, Kenneth L. Stafford, is pastor. He was the oldest member of the church and the first charter member to pass away.

He loved the church throughout his life, and even during his last illness was faithful in reading his Bible whenever his health permitted. His Heavenly Father gave him much patience and forbearance during his long illness until it pleased Him to release him from this mortal body.

In place of flowers, friends and relatives contributed to a memorial fund for hymn books for the church — a fitting and lasting memorial for one who loved his church so well.

Surviving him are he wife, Agnes Banman, two daughters, Linda Wiebe of Silver Spring, Maryland and Gertrude Stafford of Fresno, Calif.; a brother, Frank, of Canton, Kansas; one grandson and three granddaughters.