Harder, John A. (1897-1964)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1964 May 22 p. 19

Birth date: 1897 Mar 22

text of obituary:

JOHN A. HARDER, 67

John A. Harder, 67, was born in Rosenort, South Russia, and moved to the Crimea with his family for a few years, returning after the Russo-Japanese war to South Russia, where his parents fulfilled a long-standing urge to build an orphanage for Mennonite ChHdren. This work of faith was built in Grossweide, in Colony of Gnadenfeld. It was here that Mr. Harder received his early education, but his efforts to study medicine were frustrated by the outbreak of the First World War. The ensuing years brought great dangers to the family at the hands of the revolutionaries.

Mr. Harder stated that these early years at the orphanage were a great blessing to him personally. He enjoyed growing up with so many other young people, and witnessed God's providence time,and again; especially when the Bolshewick Government began persecuting Christians. Religious instruction at the orphanage had to stop, and the years of starvation began at this time. The Lord helped wonderfully so that none of the ch11dren at the orphanage died.

In 1917 Mr. Harder accepted Christ as his Saviour and joined the church in 1919. He was married in 1922 and assumed the full responsibility of the orphanage under constant surveillance und harrassment by the authorities. Getting provisions for the institution was dangerous because they had to be taken across the Red Front. Under this constant stress he contracted a nervous asthma. In 1922 it was impossible to continue, and the family tried to emigrate to Canada with the entire orphanage, but this was disallowed. In 1924 the Harders emigrated to Canada, and eventually settled in Yarrow, B. C., in 1930.

Since that time Mr. Harder was ordained to the ministry and served the Yarrow M. B. Church for 18 years as leader, and the Black Creek church for three years. The family then lived in semi-retirement in Clearbnook but Rev. Harder was pleased to be able to continue to serve in the preaching ministry and on various conference committees such as the Board of Foreign Missions, on which he had served for many years.

He served publicly in his home church on March 8, 'Officiated at a funeral on March 9. but became ill shortly thereafter and was admitted to the hospital. He died on March 22 after suffering considerable pain, in the full knowledge of righteousness before God in Christ, his Redeemer.

Left to mourn are his wife Tina, three sons and three daughters with their families, one sister in Russia, and many relatives and friends.

(Mrs. Harder thanks for sympathy cards that were sent. See also item re Rev. Harder in the April 3 issue of the Herald, released by the Mission Board.)