Barkman, John Peter (1881-1967)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1967 May 25 p. 3

Date of Birth: 1881 January 27, Kansas
Date of Death: 1967 May 14, California

text of obituary:

Pioneer Missionary To Congo Dies At Reedley, Calif.

Reedley, Calif. — Rev. John P. Barkman, 86, a pioneer missionary to the Congo under the Congo Inland mission, died at Retherford Rest Home here may 14. his wife, who served in Africa with him, died at the same home lat October.

Rev. Barkman was born at Hillsboro, Kan., and attended Moody Bible Institute and Northwestern University. He and his wife, the former Tillie Stuckey of Berne, Ind., served in Africa from 1916 to 1945.

He was a member of Grace Evangelical Mennonite Church here. The funeral was held May 17 at a Fresno funeral home.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1967 Jun 15 p. 8

text of obituary:

JOHN PETER BARKMAN

John Peter Barkman was born to Peter M. and Anna Gossen Barkman on Jan. 27, 1881. His early years were spent on his parents' farm near Hillsboro, Kan.

While yet a young man the Lord convicted him of sin and drew him to the place of accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. Soon after that the Lord also began to speak to his heart concerning the spiritual needs of the foreign fields. He graduated from the Teachers Institute in Marion, Kan. Seven years were spent in teaching in Kansas and Canada, after which the Lord directed him to Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, to train as a gospel singer. After completing the course at Moody, he took post-graduate studies at Northwestern University and obtained his Master's degree in piano.

He was married to Matilda Stucky on June 14, 1914. To this union was born one so, Samuel James.

After completion of his formal education, Rev. and Mrs. Barkman received the call of the Lord to spend their lives in missionary service in what was then the Belgian Congo. On March 8, 1916, they set sail for Africa. Most of the first term was spent in language study.

After their first furlough, greater were assumed on the field. Mrs. Barkman became responsible for the medical work and the girls' school on the Kalumba CIM station and Rev. Barkman became responsible for the boys and the boys' school.

There were many problems in this pioneer missionary work, since travel, living conditions and customs were primitive. The Lord saw fit to mightily bless their efforts for Him, and the work on their station grew. In 1945 when it was necessary for them to leave the field for the last time, they had seen the student body grow to 450 students.

Among the greatest hardships endured during their missionary service was that of leaving their only son Samuel in the United States at the age of two because it was not considered wise to take small children to the Congo at that time.

Rev. Barkman died on Sunday, May 14, having reached the age of 86 years, three months, and 17 days. He was preceded in death by his wife just seven months earlier. He leaves to mourn his departure one son Samuel James of Fresno, Calif., one daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, and a host of friends and relatives.

Funeral services were conducted on May 17, 1967, at 9:30 a.m. by Rev. Lloyd R. Pankratz, pastor of the Grace church in Reedley, Calif. Interment was at the Belmont Memorial Park, Fresno.

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The Mennonite obituary: 1967 Aug 1 p. 482

text of obituary:

Deaths

J. P. Barkman, Fresno, Calif., a retired Congo missionary, died on May 14 at the age of 87.

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MLA Personal Photos Collection

Biographical note:
Hillsboro, Kansas
Son of Peter M. and Anna (Goossen) Barkman
Married Matilda Stucky 914 June 14, Berne, Indiana
Teacher -- Kansas; Canada
Mission (Congo Inland Mission -- Africa 1916-45

Bethel alumni note:
Bethel Academy student 1904-05

Photo holdings:
Individual -- Hillsboro, Kansas (2 copies)
With wife (wedding) -- 1914 Berne, Indiana

Sources:
Alumni card
MWR 6/15/1967 p. 8
Grandma Profile #31017
Find A Grave 124619264