Balzer, John (1852-1930)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1930 Jul 30 p. 5

Date of Birth: 1852 January 6, South Russia
Date of Death: 1930 July 18, Kansas

text of obituary:

John Balzer

Our beloved father, the oldest son of Peter and Anna Balzer, was born January 6, 1852, in Grossweide, South Russia, and died July 18, 1930. He attained the age of 78 years and 6 months.

In the year 1872 he was united in marriage to Sara Penner, and in 1874 emigrated to McPherson County, Kansas, and settled on the prairies north of Buhler, with both of the parents settling on adjoining land.

God has helped him in his honest motives — in spiritual, financial and family life. In 1871 he was baptized on confession of his faith by Rev. Frank Geortz.

He was a diligent church worker. He also had the privilege of serving as deacon of the Hebron church for 33 years.

In 1908, January 15, he was very much grieved over the death of his beloved wife.

Oct 7, 1908, he entered his second matrimony with Aganetha Reimer, who served him as a true companion to his end.

In the year 1910, they retired from the farm and moved to Buhler where they built up a pleasant home.

In 1912 they had the privilege of visiting different places in Europe and their former home in South Russia. In 1923 they made a trip to Canada where they visited many of the Russian immigrants, whom they had known in former years.

During the last two years father aged fast and was taken to the Bethesda hospital, where he died after being there four weeks.

He was the father of eleven children, of whom six survive him. twenty-seven grandchildren of which thirty-three are alive and seven great grandchildren. — Inman review.

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MLA Personal Photos Collection

Biographical note:
Paulsheim, South Russia
Son of Peter and Anna (Peters) Balzer (wife 1)
Married Sara Penner 1872 May 28, Paulsheim, Molotschna, S. Russia
Married Agenita (Boese) Reimer 1908 October 7
Farmer -- Inman, Kansas

Bethel alumni note:

Photo holdings:
With family
See John P. Franz for group photo

Sources:
Information with photo from Harold M. Balzer 1989
Harold Balzer 1989 corresp.
Balzer Family Tree I-5, maternal grandfather of John P. Franz
Grandma Profile #50068
Find A Grave 72396471