Siebert, Jacob P. (1880-1955)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Oct 13 p. 8

Birth date: 1880 Oct 1

text of obituary:

JACOB P. SIEBERT

Jacob P. Siebert, my husband and our father, the son of John and Agnetha Plett Siebert, was born near Inman, Kansas on Oct. 1, 1880, and departed this life at Reedley, Calif., on Sept. 29, 1955, to be forever with his blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He lacked two days of reaching his 75th birthday.

He grew to manhood on the parental farm near Buhler, Kansas, helping them in the hard farm work of those early days. He attended the local district school, and as a young man attended the Bible school at Buhler for three months where Prof. J. F. Duerksen was the instructor. These short months of Bible study meant much to him.

He accepted Christ as his personal savior in early youth. He was baptized on July 5, 1893, at the age of 13 and affiliated with the Zoar Krimmer Mennonite Brethren church near Inman, Kansas. He learned to love his Saviour more and more as the years went by and remained true to Him all his life.

He was married to Lena Willems on Dec. 7, 1900. This union was blessed with eight children, five boys and three girls. Later a niece, Susanne Toews, made her home with the family for almost 20 years. Two sons preceded him in death, one in infancy and Eldo at the age of 13, in 1930. Eldo suffered with spinal meningitis which was a very difficult time for all of us.

As a young man at the age of 26, father was extremely ill with typhoid fever for over three months. For one month he was unconscious most of the time. Since then he had been in good health till 1951 when he had his first heart attack. In April of 1955 he had to go to the hospital again because of his heart, and later we had to rush him there again. The doctors and nurses did all they could for him, and he appeared to rally nicely when suddenly another attack struck, and he was summoned from this life to his home above.

After our marriage we lived on a farm in the Inman-Buhler community till 1913 when we moved to Hillsboro, Kansas, where he operated a butcher shop. In 1918 we moved to Reedley, Calif., and farmed for some time. He had a furniture business for 10 years. He was also an auctioneer and enjoyed crying sales. He especially enjoyed helping the ladies of the church sell the articles they had prepared to raise funds for missionary purposes. He did this for some twenty years.

He loved his Lords and enjoyed being active for Him. He has served in the church as Sunday School teacher and in various committees. We joined the fellowship of the Reedley Mennonite Church soon after we came to Reedley.

He witnessed often of the goodness of God and His redeeming grace. He distributed many Gospel tracts, even writing his own and publishing them. He was a good Christian father to his children, and we shall never forget his concern for our salvation and the many prayers he offered in our behalf. During his wife’s frequent illnesses he was always a wonderful and tender husband. They had many hours of sweet fellowship one with the other in reading the Bible and prayer.

Some of the highlights of his late years were the golden wedding anniversary which we commemorated with our family, friends, and church in 1950. In 1954, father and mother went to the Buhler 75th anniversary where they met many of their former friends.

He has experienced joys and sorrows in his life but now his portion shall be joys forever more in Glory where we hope to meet him soon.

He leaves to mourn his wife, Mrs. Lena Siebert of Reedley; three sons, Jack W. Siebert, Cottage Grove, Oregon, John Siebert, Los Angeles, Calif., and Menno Siebert, Cottage Grove, Oregon; three daughters, Betty, Mrs. George Doerksen, Denair, Calif., Agnes, Mrs. Leonard Patt, Reedley, Helen, Mrs. Otto Buller, Fresno, Calif.; three sons-in-law; three daughters-in-law; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Agnes, Mrs. F. E. Hein, formerly missionary to Africa, now in Portland, Oregon; Marie, Mrs. Peter Prieb, Inman Kansas; as well as many other relatives and friends. — The family.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Oct 20 p. 5

text of obituary:

Two Aged Reedley Residents Died

Reedley, Calif. — Death claimed two aged residents of the Reedley community, both members of the Mennonite Brethren churches, within a few days recently.

Jacob P. Siebert, 74, native of Buhler, Kan. And a retired auctioneer and merchant, died Sept. 29 after a long illness. He had lived here for 37 years. Funeral services were held at the Reedley M. B. church.

Surviving are his wife, six children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and two sisters, Mrs. F. E. Hein of Portland, Ore. and Mrs. P. J. Prieb of Inman, Kan.

Mrs. Aganetha Friesen, 84, a resident of Mennonite Home for Aged who was born in Russia, died Oct. 1. Funeral services were held at the Dinuba M. B. church. Her surviving children are Dr. J. F. Friesen of Reedley, A. W. Friesen of Los Angeles, H. F. Friesen of Fresno, D. J. Friesen of Dinuba and Elsie Friesen of Fresno.