Riediger, Peter Abram (1872-1969)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1970 Jan 23 p. 30

Birth date: 1872 May 17

text of obituary:

PETER ABRAM RIEDIGER

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God" (Hebrew 4:9). "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and 'if by reason of strength they be fourscore . .' . we flyaway" (Ps. 90:10). There are a privHeged few of G'od's chHdren whose years exceed the fourscore years and ten but then they too pass on. On December 12, the Lord called to himself Peter .6Ibram Hiediger, eldest member of the 'Coaldale MB Church.

Born in 1872 lin Rosenort, South Russia, he Hved in Fischau during his early childhood and ,Iat'er 'in Lichtenau. In 1894 he married Katherina Penner of Lindenau and up to the time o,f her passing ·in 1957 he shared joys and sorrows with her. God blessed their union with 15 children. Four sons and two daughters predeceas,ed him. In 1906 they sold their fa,rm lin Lindenau to move to Klinock. There God miracuious'lysaved their lives when bandits ra'ided their home and demanded the money. It was during these diUicult yea'rs that he chose Christ as his Saviour, was baptized and joined the fellowship of the Mennonite Brethren Chur'ch in Lugnos.k.

When rel'igious freedom in Russia became restricted, the Riedigers in 19their home in Stavely, Alberta, then Vauxhall and 'in 1948 moved to Coa,ldale.

Except for his blindness during the last eight years of his life, Mr. Riediger enjoyed fairly good health. He was first hospi,tal'ized on December 2 after the second of two strokes. He lived to be 97Y2 years.

Left to mourn his passing, a,re two sons, seven daughters, five sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, 48 grandchildren, 94 great-grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter.

Funeral services were conducted in the Coalda'ie Church on December 15. "T'he ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy ... " (Isa. 35:10) was in essence the message brought by Rev. H.H. Kornelsen. Rev. D.J. Pankratz, officiating at the service, chose to speak on, "The righteous hath hope in death" (Provo 14: 32). Prayer and the reading of 1 Thess. 4:13 constituted the graveside service.