Goertzen, Henry S. (1894-1973)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 11 Oct 1973 p. 8; 10

Birth date: 1894

text of obituary:

Newton and Vicinity

Henry S. Goertzen, 79, a resident of Newton for 51 years, died Monday evening at Axtell Christian Hospital. Before retirement he had been a bookkeeper for Consolidated Mills for 20 years, and earlier had been employed by the Gas Service Company. He was a member of the First Mennonite Church, where funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon with Dr. Albert Epp and Rev. A. R. Shelly officiating. Survivors include his widow, the former Mathilda Wedel; two daughters, Mrs. Marlo Graber of Hesston and Mrs. Donovan Bachman of rural Newton; one son, Irvin, of rural Hillsboro; one sister, Mrs. Jacob B. Schmidt of Goessel; four brothers, Arnold S., Jacob S. and Philip S., all of Goessel, and Ferd S. of Hillsboro; and 14 grandchildren.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 10 Jan 1974 p. 11

text of obituary:

HENRY S. GOERTZEN

Henry S. Goertzen was born on March 25, 1894, near Goessel, Kan., the second child of Jacob H. and Helena Schmidt Goertzen. He attended Goessel Preparatory School, Bethel Academy, and finally Wichita Business College where he studied bookkeeping.

During his youth he realized his need of committing his life to the Lord, and on June 8, 1913 he was baptized by Elder Heinrich Banman, uniting with the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church.

In 1918 toward the end of World War I he was drafted and spent several months at Camp Funston near Fort Riley, Kansas. It was during these difficult and trying months that he wrote to Mathilda Wedel, asking for the words to the song "Does Jesus Care," which was sung at the church farewell service. This was the incident that began their courtship and they were married on May 25, 1922. They shared 51 happy years, living the entire time in the same home.

He transferred his membership to First Mennonite of Newton in 1939 and was a faithful member until his passing.

His first job was with the Kansas State Bank. Following this in the hard years of the depression, he found work wherever he could. He spent nearly 20 years working at the Gas Service Company. From there he went to the Consolidated Mill where he was bookkeeper and assistant manager for 20 happy and fulfilling years which ended when the mill was destroyed by fire. For a few years he worked for Jantz and Woolery.

Upon retirement, he kept busy in his flower and vegetable garden. His back yard was beautiful and always immaculate. He spent many hours doing relief canning or making soap for relief.

A special joy and privilege was being able to celebrate the golden wedding anniversary in May 1972.

He became ill with a massive stroke on Sept. 8 from which he never regained consciousness. On Oct. 8, 1973, he quietly slipped to his eternal home. He was preceded in death in 1961 by one small grandson, Loren.

He is survived by his wife, Mathilda; two daughters, Edna Ruth Graber and husband Marlo, Helen Bachman and husband Donovan; and a son, Irvin and his wife Elaine; and 14 grandchildren. — The Family.