Hiebert, Ernest W. (d. 1942)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1942 Sep 17 p. 1

Birth date:

Funerals of Teacher And Pupils Held Saturday and Sunday

VICTIMS OF DROWNING ARE LAID TO REST FROM HILLSBORO MENN. CHURCHES

Hillsboro, Kansas. — It was a sad week-end for this community when Ernest W. Hiebert, local grade school principal and two of his pupils, Merrill Loewen and Elvin Enns, all of whom drowned in the Cottonwood river last week, were laid to rest from local Mennonite churches on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12 and 13.

Funeral services for Mr. Hiebert were held at the First Mennonite church Saturday forenoon, while the services for Elvin Enns were held at the same church Sunday afternoon. Rev. H. T. Unruh, pastor of the church officiated.

The funeral for Merril [sic Merrill] Loewen on Saturday afternoon took place at the Mennonite Brethren church.

All three were victims of an unexpected swift current in the Cottonwood river near Marion, where the school party went for an outing Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 9. The principal lost his life trying to rescue the two lads who were among the first to enter the water but had gone in where the river was too deep. Attempts at resuscitation by doctors who later rushed to the scene were of no avail.

Merrill Loewen was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Loewen, while Elvin Enns was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Enns. Both were about 13 years old. Mr. Hiebert is survived by his wife and two small children.