Warkentin, Joseph Daniel (1926-1944)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Jul 13 p. 1

Birth date: 1926

Tragedy in California Takes Lives of Two Reedley Youths

DANIEL EDIGER AND JOSEPH WARKENTIN KILLED WHILE HAULING PEACHES TO L. A.

Reedley, Calif., July 6. — The tragedy of sudden death entered two Reedley families Saturday morning when two 18-year-old boys lost their lives as the fruit truck they were driving crashed into the rear of a Southern Pacific freight engine on Alameda street, Los Angeles. Daniel Herman Ediger and Joseph Daniel Warkentin had left Reedley about 7 o'clock Friday evening with a load of peaches for the Los Angeles [transcriber's note: two lines of type were reversed in the original] market. The trip had been made many times by the Warkentin boy and it was the first visit to the southern metropolis by the Ediger boy.

The Warkentin boy was driving the truck, which was loaded with three tons of loaded peaches, and the supposition is that he did not see the engine.

Firemen worked for an hour and a half with acetylene torches before the boys' bodies were extricated from the wreckage of twisted iron, steel and crates of fruit. In the final effort two two trucks were used to life the engine.

News of the accident came to Reedley early Saturday morning. P. K. Warkentin and H. D. Ediger fathers of the boys, and Mrs. Leona Klassen, sister of the Warkentin boy, left immediately for Los Angeles. At that time the Warkentin boy was still alive in a Los Angeles hospital but he died not long after being taken there.

Both boys attended the Mennonite Brethren church of Reedley. There the double funeral was held Wednesday morning, with the Cairns Funeral Home in charge. They reposed in duplicate caskets of white brocade and quantities of flowers were sent by sorrowing friends. The blossoms were banked around the altar.

At 9 a. m. there was a short service for the two families at the funeral home, then the cortage [sic] proceeded to the church, for the funeral at 10 o'clock. Rev. J. D. Hofer of Fresno conducted the service at the chapel.

Rev. George B. Huebert, pastor of the church, was in charge of the service. He was assisted by Rev. R. C. Seibel of Lodi.

Musical selections were sung by the Mennonite Brethren choir, directed by Frank Wiens. The accompaniment was played on the pipe organ by Mrs. Ben Nachtigall, who also played a prelude and processional at the opening of the service. [transcriber's note; two lines of text were reversed in the original]

The two boys who had been pals in life were laid to rest in Reedley cemetery. Several selection were sung by the Clarion Quartet and the ritual was conducted by John H. Richert of Dinuba.

The pall bearers for Daniel Ediger were Wesley Heinrichs, Harry Kornelsen, Doanld Dick, Curt Bartell, Ira Thiesen and Herman Janzen.

Officiating for Joseph Warkentin were: Herman Penner, Cal Loewen, Gid Regier, Jack Boldt, Harry Buhler and Alend Wiliams. — Reedley Esponent.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Jul 20 p. 6

text of obituary:

LARGE ATTENDANCE AT FUENRAL

Reedley, Calif. — A crowd estimated at 2,000 attended the funeral of Daniel H. Ediger and Jos. D. Warkentin, 18 year old youths, which was held at the Mennonite Brethren church here Wednesday, July 5. The large church was too small to accommodate all who wished to attend.

The two youths were killed when the fruit truck which they were driving crashed into the rear of a freight engine in Los Angeles.