Roth, John (1862-1940)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1940 Jul 9 p. 14

Birth date: 1862 Aug 17

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1940 Jun 19 p. 1

text of obituary:

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR DEPARTED MINISTER HELD BY SWISS MENNONITE CHURCH

Whitewater, Kansas, June 13. — The Rev. John Roth, formerly of this community but more recently of Salem, Oregon, died at his home Friday, June 7.

The funeral service and burial was at Salem, Oregon,but his many old friends in this vicinity thought it appropriate that a memorial service be held in his honor in what was his home community for so long.

Accordingly the service was held at the Swiss Mennonite church north of Whitewater on Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Mr. Roth had been pastor of this church for thirty-seven years. The music was by a male quartet composed of LaVerne Rutschman, John Wuthrich, Curt Claassen and Robt. Roth, with Miss Pauline Roth at the piano. Rev. G. N. Harms of Grace Hill church and Rev. H. J Dyck of Zion church spoke in memory of their departed friend and pastor. — Whitewater Independent.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1940 Jun 19 p. 1

text of obituary:

Mennonite News of General Interest.

. . .

— Rev. John Roth, 77, of Salem, Oregon, but formerly of Whitewater, Kansas, died at his home at Salem Friday, June 7. Outstanding experiences of his long life were: Years of work in stone quarries or hay fields of the Swiss Alps; the trip to America with his young wife and two children, and early pioneer experiences at Peabody, Kansas; 27 years of service as minister of the Swiss Mennonite church of Whitewater, and finally the establishment of a new home at Salem Oreg., in 1927.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1940 Jul 3 p. 3

text of obituary:

Rev. John Roth

Rev. John Roth, son of John and Anna (Ramsaeyer) Roth, was born August 17, 1862, in Grindelwald, Canton Berne, Switzerland.

As he was 11 years of age, the family moved to Canton Neuchatel (Neuenburg) where he lived until he reached his maturity. At the age of 16 he was confirmed into the Reformed church, and in 1884 upon the confession of his faith he was baptized by Rev. Jacob Hege and received into the Mennonite Church.

Being born of parents who were very poor, he grew to manhood under difficult conditions. His educational opportunities were limited but he made the best of them and attained for himself a fair education. Opportunities to earn wages were few and he worked either in stone quarries, hay fields on the Alps, or cutting wood in the timbers. Wages were very low and he learned early in life to be both economical and thrifty. As a young man he accepted Christ into his life, not only as Redeemer and Saviour but also as King to whom he pledged his faithful allegiance and obedience.

He was married to Miss Henrietta Wenker, on February 21, 1885, with whom he lived in perfect harmony for over 55 years. Two sons, Dave and John were born to this union while in Switzerland. Together with the Gerbers, who had given Mrs. Roth a home during her girlhood, the family sailed to America in 1887, and arrived in Peabody, Kansas, travel weary and almost entirely without funds but possess a great faith and undauted [sic] courage. Their possessions when they arrived at Peabody consisted of a few trunks full of clothing and bedding and $12.50 in cash. They made their home in the Whitewater vicinity for 40 years, first on rented farms, then they purchased the old home place just south of Whitewater, now owned by A. W. Zuercher and as God prospered them they brought several other farms. During these years eleven other children were born to this union.

He was a charter member of the Swiss Mennonite church. The Swiss church group had been organized in 1885 and its founder, Rev. rich, had passed away and Rev. Gerber had taken over the work in 1887 but in 1890 Mr. Roth was elected to be their minister and in 1891 was ordained as pastor. In 1908 he was made the Elder of the church serving in that capacity until 1927, when they moved to Salem, Oregon. His work in the Swiss Church was entirely a work of love. he was never a hired servant of the church but rather a spiritual father giving himself freely and gladly to the work, rejoicing in the salvation of souls.

His own life was not free from trials and hardships while he so faithfully served the church. He was very sick with typhoid fever during his early ministry and this along with their limited finances and unfavorable farming conditions gave the family great concern but he often said later that those hours of suffering and confinement were hours of rich spiritual blessing as he waited upon God. He also experienced great heartaches as he stood by the departed forms of several of his own children. Emil, Martha, Samuel, Mary and Paul all preceded him in death during his 37 years of service in the Swiss Church.

Since 1927 when they moved to Oregon, he has been a member of the Immanuel Mennonite Church at Pratum, Oregon.

In recent years because of failing health he attended the nearby Bethel Baptist church, where he received many spiritual blessings and enjoyed the personal communion and fellowship with the good people there, which he greatly enjoyed.

In Salem he was connected with his relatives in the Willamette Grocery Co., where he was employed until February 1 of this year, when illness forced him to quit.

He died June 7, 1940, at the age of 77 years, 9 months and 21 days. he leaves to mourn his departure his loving wife, Henrietta Roth, Salem, Oregon; three daughters, Mrs. Ida Zuercher, Whitewater, Kansas; Mrs. Anne Jose, Des Moines, Iowa; and Mrs. Dorothea Stark, Salem, Oregon; also five sons, John, Theodore and Willie of Whitewater, Kansas, and Dave and Emanuel of Moundridge, Kansas; four sisters, Mrs. Eloise Stettler, Mrs. Mary Broer and Mrs. Bertha Barnett of Salem, Oregon; and Mrs. Rose Rich of Hillsboro, Oregon; three brothers, William and Theodore of Salem, Oregon, and Charley of The Dalles Oregonean [sic Oregon];five daughters-in-law; three sons-in-law; thirty-three grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was a patient sufferer, a kind and loving husband and father and will be greatly missed.

Funeral services were held Juen 11, 3:00 p.m., in the Bethel Baptist church, Cottage and D street, Salem, Oregon, withr [sic] Rev. John Althoff officiating.

A mixes quartet, consisting of Isabel Schmirer, Alice Willecke, Henry Neuman and Roy Kuper, snag two numbers in German "Las mich Gehen," in English, "Close to Thee," accompanied by Mrs. Henry Neuman, pianist.

He was laid to rest in the Lee Mission cemetery, Salem, Oregon.