Wenger, Ira Joel (1883-1968)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1968 Mar 28 p. 8

Birth date: 1883 Feb 14

text of obituary:

. . .

• Funeral services for Ira Wenger, 85, were held Monday forenoon at the Faith Mennonite Church, with Rev. Myron Schrag and Rev. Paul Isaak officiating. Mr. Wenger died March 21 at the home of his son and daughter-in-law, Rev. and Mrs. Malcolm Wenger, with whom he resided. He was married here to Olivia Koppes in 1917, and they lived at Aberdeen, Idaho for many years before moving to Mt. Lake, Minn. in 1955 and to Newton in 1966. Mrs. Wenger died here last August. Surviving in addition to the son here are a daughter, Mrs. Orlando Schmidt of Elkhart, Ind., seven grandchildren, and two brothers, Frank of Aberdeen and Paul of Bluffton, Ohio.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1968 Apr 18 p. 11

text of obituary:

IRA JOEL WENGER

Ira Joel Wenger, son of Michael F. and Rosina Welty Wenger, descendants of Anabaptist emigrants from Switzerland, was born near Fortuna, Mo., Feb. 14, 1883, and died March 21, 1968, at Newton, Kan.

In order to provide adequate education for the children, his parents moved to Bethel College in 1898, where he attended the Academy for four years and they operated the boarding hall for the school. He was employed as a bank clerk and assistant cashier by the First National Bank of Newton from 1902 to 1909. Then he followed his parents to Aberdeen, Idaho where they were helping to pioneer a new irrigation project. After 16 years of farming he was appointed secretary for the Aberdeen Springfield Canal Col., where he served until retirement.

On Dec. 25, 1917, he was married to Olivia L. Koppes at her home near Newton, Kan. She remained a faithful companion for almost 50 years and died Aug. 21, 1967.

He and his wife moved to Mountain Lake, Minn. in 1955 and returned to Newton in 1966.

They had both been members of the first baptismal class of the Bethel College Mennonite Church and were baptized by Rev. David Goerz on April 22, 1900. They later transferred to the First Mennonite Church of Aberdeen, Idaho, of which they remained members until death.

The family treasures his genuinely personal interest in each one and his testimony of patience, dependability and quiet faith. Living members of the family include two brothers, Paul of Bluffton, Ohio, and Frank of Aberdeen, Idaho; a son, Malcolm, and wife, Esther, of Newton; a daughter, Ruth, and husband Orlando Schmidt of Elkhart, Ind., and five granddaughters and two grandsons.

Funeral services were held at the Faith Mennonite Church in Newton, Kan. with pastors Myron Schrag and Paul Isaak participating. Burial was in the Zimmerdale cemetery.

The Mennonite obituary: 1968 Apr 9 p. 271