Banman, Jacob J. (1874-1948)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Sep 23 p. 1

Birth date: 1874 Jan 14

text of obituary:

Minister-Teacher Called Away in Death

Rev. J. J. Banman, 74, for many years a minister and teacher in the Alexanderwohl community, died at his home at 115 East 10th St., Newton, early Monday morning, Sept 20. Funeral services were held at the First Mennonite church of Newton Wednesday afternoon and interment made in the family lot at the Alexanderwohl church near Goessel.

Rev. Banman served as elementary and preparatory school teacher for 30 years and was a minister of the Alexanderwohl church from 1908 until his retirement because of ill health about eight years ago. For 10 years he was connected with the Herald Publishing Co. and at one time served on its board of directors.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Oct 7 p. 3

text of obituary:

REV. J. J. BANMAN

Jacob J. Banman was born in the village of Alexanderwohl, South Russia, January 14, 1874. In the same year he came to America with his parents, Johann and Katharina Schmidt Banman and his sister Katharina. The family made its home in the western part of Marion county. There he grew up in a Christian atmosphere and received his elementary education.

May 22, 1893 he was baptized by Elder Jacob Buller upon his confession of faith in Jesus Christ and was received into membership in the Alexanderwohl church. September 20, 1893, when Bethel college opened its doors for the first school year he enrolled as a student in the academy, and after his academy course he taught a number of years in the Marion county public schools.

When his parents passed away he bought the home farm and provided a home for his sister Elizabeth and brother Abe, continuing farming and teaching school.

August 31, 1906, he was married to Helen Pankratz, with whom he shared the joys and sorrows of life forty-two years. It was their privilege to celebrate their silver wedding on August 31, 1931. Of the immediate family surviving are his wife, son-in-law and daughter, Bruce and Katharine Mason, two sons and one daughter-in-law, Anton and Betty Banman and John Banman. A son Paul died at the age of 20 months. He also leaves a grandchild, John Michael Banman, four brothers and one sister, Peter J., Abe J. and Will J., all of Canton, Samuel J., of Goessel and Elizabeth Banman of Newton. One sister, Mrs. Peter Boese and two brothers, Frank J. and John J. preceded him in death.

December 26, 1910, he was ordained for evangelistic service in his church and two years later as minister. In this capacity he served the Alexanderwohl church faithfully for approximately 31 years. When the Goessel preparatory school was discontinued in 1926, the family moved to Newton where he was employed a number of years in the Herald printing office. He had the misfortune to lose his left hand in a paper-cutting machine in 1935.

When his hearing became defective and his eyesight failed he resigned as minister in December, 1943. Since the family lived in Newton the church membership was transferred to the First Mennonite church of Newton, in December, 1944. As regularly as his physical condition would allow he attended church services here with joy. His Lord, home and family were important to him.

His health began failing rapidly the final three months of his life. After 74 years, eight months and six days he passed to his reward at 12:20 a.m., September 20, 1948.

At 9:00 o'clock the morning of September 22 a short funeral service was held at his late home for members of the immediate family, followed by funeral services at 9:30 at the First Mennonite church. Officiating at the services were Rev. D. J. Unruh, Rev. J. E. Entz, and Rev. C. C. Wedel. A male quartet from the Alexanderwohl church sang several favorite selections at the home, the church and the graveside. Casket bearers were G. H. Willms, Herman F. Schmidt, H. J. Reimer, J. F. Quiring, John W. Unruh and J. R. Duerksen. Interment was made in the family lot in Alexanderwohl cemetery, near Goessel by Rex M. Moody of the Moody's Funeral Home.

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The Mennonite obituary: 1948 Sep 28 p. 4

Text of obituary:

Rev. Jacob J. Banman, 74, former minister of the Alexanderwohl Church and a teacher in that community for many years, passed away at his home at Newton, Kansas, early Monday morning, September 20. Reverend Banman was born in South Russia January 14, 1874. He was associated with the Herald Publishing Company for a number of years. In 1942, after serving as minister of the Alexanderwohl Church for some thirty years, Reverend Banman retired from active service. Funeral services were held September 22, at the First Mennonite Church, Newton, of which he was a member at the time of his death.