Balzer, Abraham (1888-1969)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1969 Jul 3 p. 11

Date of Birth: 1888 September 24, Kansas
Date of Death: 1969 June 25, Kansas

text of obituary:

. . .

• Funeral services for Abraham Balzer, 80, were held Monday forenoon at the Grace Hill Mennonite Church. Mr. Balzer, a retired farmer and native of the Whitewater community, died Wednesday morning at the home on Southeast Eighth Street. Survivors include his widow, the former Ida Gaede; sons Arnold A. and Frank E. of Newton and Howard M. of Potwin; one daughter, Mrs. Henry Nickel of Buhler; two brothers, 17 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1969 Jul 24 p. 11

text of obituary:

ABRAHAM BALZER

Abraham Balzer was born on Sept. 24, 1888 on a farm at Whitewater, Kan. to Peter and Eva (Klaassen) Balzer. He attended the Star School for about three years and German school for several years.

On June 4, 1906, after taking catechism, he was baptized by Rev. G. N. Harms and received into the Grace Hill Mennonite Church, of which he remained a member until his passing.

On Oct. 5, 1913 father was married to Ida Gaede in a tent on the Gaede farm. Following their marriage they settled on a farm near Whitewater, living together with his mother and step-father for 21 years. In succeeding years they lived in farms southwest of Whitewater, near Leon, Furley and Putnam. In later years, after retiring from the farm, he worked at the grain elevator in Furley and as a night watchman at the Union Stock Yards of Wichita.

In 1963 our parents were privileged to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. About this time father was afflicted with a rare tumor in his mouth, which later became very uncomfortable and was the cause of his passing.

During their 55 years of married life they had many joys and blessings as well as disappointments and trials. In spite of these, and his illness, father maintained a cheerful disposition. He always took real interest in his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was always eager to have us read God's Word and pray. His favorite passage was Psalm 23.

On June 25 he quietly departed this earthly pilgrimage. He is survived by his widow, Ida; one daughter, Edna Jane and husband Henry P. Nickel of Buhler, Kan.; three sons, Frank E. and wife Martha and Arnold A. and wife Evelyn of Newton, Kan., and Howard M. and wife of Potwin, Kansas; 16 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two brothers, Peter of Moundridge, Kan. and Isaac of Newton, and a host of relatives and friends. Two sisters, one brother and one grandson preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. June 30, at the Grace Hill Mennonite Church with Rev. E. J. Miller and Rev. Herbert Miller in charge. Interment was made in the church cemetery.

The Mennonite obituary: 1969 Sep 9 p. 539

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MLA Personal Photos Collection

Biographical note:
Whitewater, Kansas
Son of Peter and Eva (Klaassen) Balzer (wife 2, husband 1)
Married Ida Gaede 1913 October 5, Hillsboro, Kansas
Farmer -- Whitewater, Kansas
Stockyards night watchman -- Wichita, Kansas

Bethel alumni note:

Photo holdings:
With wife (wedding) -- 1913
With another male (at car) -- (2 poses) from P.P. Schmidt collection
With wife and another couple -- c. 1920s (Identified by Elsie Schmidt Harms 1992)
See Peter P. Schmidt (1881-1953) for group photos

Sources:
MWR 7/24/1969 p. 11
J. Klaasen ... family 1987 p. 20 & 27
Grandma Profile #324053
(After he was married, he and his wife lived with his mother and stepfather for 21 years.)