Mendel, David J. (1868-1951)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 May 3 p. 6

Birth date: 1868

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 10 May 1951 p. 9

text of obituary:

DAVID J. MENDEL

David J. Mendel was born Nov. 4, 1868, at New Hutteral [sic Hutterthal] in South Russia. He passed away April 28, 1951, at 6:30 p.m. at his home in Freeman, S. Dakota, reaching the age of 82 years, four months and 24 days.

His father died suddenly of cholera when he was three and one-half years old. In 1875, at the age of six and one-half, his mother with eight orphaned children moved to America. They found their home near the James River, seven and one-half miles northwest of Menno, S. Dakota. it was here that he spent his boyhood days and also acquired his schooling, which consisted of 26 months. A few of these were spent at the University of South Dakota. However, most of his education he received through reading and self-endeavor.

At the age of 18 he began to teach and continued for 10 years. this he did with much pleasure, besides farming.

He served as general secretary of the Mennonite Aid Plan for 37 consecutive years. He was a charter member of the Freeman Junior college board, a position he occupied for many years until his health failed. He served two terns in the state legislature at Pierre.

On Nov. 24, 1890, he was married to Elizabeth Hofer by Elder Paul Tschetter. They established their new home four miles west of Freeman in the spring of 1892. After seven years, eight months, through the death of the mother, this union came to an end, leaving him with three motherless children, Jacob, David, and Elizabeth. One child, Michael, died in infancy.

Through the Lord’s leading, Susanna Hofer, a sister of his former wife, became his bride on Jan. 22, 1899. Rev. John D. Hofer officiated at the wedding ceremony. to this union six children were born: Mike, John, Emma, Susie, Maria and Herbert. Maria and Herbert preceded him in death.

He retired from farming in 1925 and moved to Freeman in 1929, where he lived until his death.

In the fall of 1920 he found peace in the Lord and the assurance that his sins were washed in the Blood of the Lamb. On Sept. 26, 1920, he was baptized by Rev. Joseph W. Tschetter, and became a member of the Salem K. M. B. church, Bridgewater, S. Dakota where he remained faithful to the end. He served as Sunday school superintendent for 12 years and helped in church work wherever he could. For several years he was secretary of the K. M. B. conference.

His health began to fail in 1939. Upon medical examination he was informed that he had only two more years to live. He rallied at times but never fully recovered, patiently and bravely bearing his burden. Some of his last words were, “My Peace I Leave With Ye, and My Peace I give Unto Ye.” His last audible word was “Home.” We always knew him as a good husband and a kind loving father.

On Jan. 22, 1949, our parents counted it a privilege to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

He leaves to mourn his passing his bereaved wife Susanna and seven children, Jake, David, Elizabeth (Mrs. And. J. Walter), Mike, and Emma (Mrs. Joe G. Hofer) of Freeman, S. Dakota, John of Chicago, and Susie (Mrs. Jacob E. Glanzer) of Alexandria, S. Dakota; three sons-in-law; three daughters-in-law; twenty-three grandchildren and nine great grandchildren; two sisters, Susanna, Mrs. John Tschetter of Huron, S. Dakota and Mrs. katherina Hofer of Dolton, S. Dakota; and a host of relatives and friends. A memorial fund for missionary purposes of $168 was donated.