Nachtigal, John (1884-1969)

Henderson News obituary: 1969 Nov 27 p. 1

Birth date: 1884 Feb 11

Text of obituary:

JOHN NACHTIGAL DIES AT AGE 85

Mr. John Nachtigal age 85, died at a Lincoln Hospital last Thursday, November 20. Very little is known about Mr. Nachtigal, yet he had lived in Henderson for some 61 years.

John was born on February 11, 1884. His parents died when he was still quite young. He was cared for by his aunts and uncles. Seemingly he was on his own at an early age. It is known that he was in the Russian army. He is known to have come from his native land by way of Canada and relatives in North Dakota. He arrived in Henderson in 1908—at the age of 24. Here he lived and worked for over sixty years. He built and rebuilt houses in our community.

He will be remembered as a quiet and unassuming man. He lived very much to himself. He felt that every person is very much responsible for himself. He was not one who spoke about his religion. He was of the Lutheran faith. In recent months he spoke more freely about spiritual matters. One gets the impression that his life was one of much loneliness, inner grief, and many disappointments. So we commit his to Him who judges justly. We all stand in need of the mercy of God.

On the 5th day of September he was admitted to the Henderson Hospital. He spent his last three weeks at Lincoln General Hospital. He leaves a sister Mrs. Hulda Marx of Dickenson, North Dakota; two nephews, Bernard Marx, Dickenson, North Dakota, Albert Nachtigal, and three nieces Hilda, Melita, and Frieda, who are in Europe.

Funeral services were conducted November 24 with Reverends Walter Dyck and LeRoy Crossley officiating. Pall bearers were Clarence Friesen, Arley Friesen, Willard Friesen, Carl Epp, Arnold Friesen, and C. C. Koop. Interment was at the Bethesda Mennonite Cemetery.