Bergen, Jacob P. (1869-1962)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Oct 4 p. 8

Birth date: 1869 Oct 5

text of obituary:

JACOB P. BERGEN

My dear husband, Jacob P. Bergen, son of Frank and Bertrude Penner Bergen, was born on Oct. 5, 1869 in Mariantochi, Russia.

In 1875, he came with his parents to Marion County, Kansas, where they settled on a farm. Here at the age of 21, he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, and on Dec. 21, 1890 was baptized and united with the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren Church.

On May 11, 1910, he was united in holy matrimony to Anna Koehn. This union, which lasted 52 years, was blessed with one daughter, Anna Gertrude, who died in infancy.

At first we made our home on a farm in western Kansas near the town of Syracuse. Later we moved to a farm near Burrton, Kansas, where we resided until 1934. That year we moved to Reedley, Calif., where we have made our home ever since.

My husband loved the Lord and also the fellowship of the saints. During his years of activity he served as a choir director and song leader in his church.

One of the joys of our days together was the privilege of commemorating ur [sic] 50th wedding anniversary in 1960. The Lord has blessed us in many ways, especially with good health. However, during the last year Mr. Bergan [sic Bergen] began to fail in health. He became rather weak and we took him to the Reedley Hospital where he received the best of care. However, early Friday morning, Sept. 7, 1962, the Lord called him home to glory. He reached the age of 92 years, 11 months and two days.

Those who stand nearest to him at the time of his departure are his wife, Mrs. Anna Bergen of Reedley; one sister, Mrs. Mary Klassen, Medford, Okla.; two half-sisters, Mrs. Gertrude Frichting of Collinsville, Okla.; and Mrs. Agnes Duerksen of Bakersfield, Calif. Besides these there are many nephews and nieces who appreciated him.

The memorial service was held in the Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church with Rev. Dan Friesen and Rev. Henry L. Janzen officiating.