Kliewer, John J. (1859-1937)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1937 Mar 30 p. 14

Birth date: 1859 Jul 21

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1937 Mar 24 p. 5

text of obituary:

LOCAL

. . .

— Rev. J. J. Kliewer, formerly of Newport, Wash., father of Mrs. B. Bargen of Bethel College, died at the Bethel Hospital Tuesday morning, March 16. Funeral services were held at the Goessel Mennonite church Friday afternoon and were attended by friends and relatives from far and near. Rev. Kliewer was only recently brought her [sic] from Newport by his oldest son, Herman S. of Great Bend. After a short stay with his daughter, Mrs. Bargen, he was taken to the hospital where he soon succumbed to this illness. He reached the age of 77 years.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1937 Mar 31 p. 2

text of obituary:

Rev. J. J. Kliewer

John J. Kliewer was born in southern Russia on July 21, 1859. At fifteen years of age, in the large immigration of Mennonites of 1874, he came with his parents and settled near Buhler, Kansas. His parents took an 80-acre piece of land, on which they built a sod house. One year after they arrived in Kansas, he lost his father. Then it was up to him and a three-year younger brother to run the little farm of his mother and help support three younger sisters. Those were hard pioneer years.

He was admitted into the Mennonite Church at the age of eighteen, through baptism upon confession of his faith. Through industrious struggle he managed to acquire some education, attended the high school in Newton, Kansas. He passed the teachers' examinations and taught rural school.

In 1884 he entered into the Mennonite Missionary service, amongst the Indians in Oklahoma. He was untied in wedlock to Miss Helena Schmidt in 1885. When, after some years the mission station ceased because the United States Government took in hand the education of the Indian children and the adult Indians moved to other localities, he devoted his life to the ministry in the various churches where he happened to reside. In adult years he has lived at Cantonment, Oklahoma, Shelly, Oklahoma, Gotebo, Oklahoma, Carlsbad, New Mexico, Reedley, California, Burrton, Kansas, and Newport, Washington.

He was keenly interest in schools and higher education, and helped his children to attain a college education. Four sons in infancy preceded him in death, and his beloved wife three years ago. On the 22nd of February last he left his home at Newport, Washington, an ill man, in company of his eldest son, to his daughter's home at Bethel College. After eleven days' stay there he entered Bethel Hospital, in Newton, Kansas, where he passed away on march 16, 1937, at the age of 77 years, 7 months, and 23 days. Funeral services were conducted at the Mennonite church, of Goessel, Kansas, north of Newton, Kansas, where Mrs. Kliewer's relatives live, as well as many of his intimate friends.

He is survived by two sons, Herman S., Route 1, Great Bend, Kansas, and Peter S., Escondido, California, and by three daughters, Mrs. Roy Paulson, Healdsburg, California, Mrs. B. Bargen, Bethel College, Kansas, and Mrs. Hugo Wall, 1620 North Holyoke, Wichita, Kansas — all of whom were present at the funeral. he has fourteen grandchildren, all living. He is also survived by one brother, at Newport, Washington, and by two sisters, at Burrton, Kansas.

The Mennonite obituary: 1937 Apr 20 p. 13