Bergman, Abraham (1855-1948)

Latest revision as of 15:52, 15 October 2019

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Apr 1 p. 5

Birth date: 1855 Sep 11, Russia
Date of Death: 1948, Mar 25, Kansas

text of obituary:

. . .

— An aged member of the First Mennonite church, Abraham Bergman, passed away at Bethel Deaconess hospital on Thursday evening, March 25, at the age of 92. He had been confined to the hospital since breaking his hip in a fall a number of weeks ago. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Mrs. Helen Funk of Little Field, Texas, and Mrs. Agnes Wohlgemuth of West Salem, Ore.; and one son, C. F. Bergman of Newton. Funeral services were held Monday at the First church, with burial at the Brudertal cemetery near Hillsboro.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Apr 15 p. 3

text of obituary:

Abraham Bergman, son of Johann and Elizabeth Warkentin Bergman was born at Kursk, Russia on Sept. 11, 1855, while his parents were moving from Heubuden, near Marienburg, West Prussia, to Marajewfka at Samara, Russia. They made their home at Marajewfka for many years.

At the age of 17, he was baptized on confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by Elder David Hamm, and became a member of the Mennonite church. After about 20 years, the family moved back to West Prussia, where they lived until 1876. In that year they moved from West Prussia and came to Peabody, Kansas, in Butler county east of Newton, where they purchased some land.

On August 5, 1879, he was farried [sic] to Katharina Funk, and they made their home near Hillsboro, Kansas. To this union were born two sons, Cornelius and Abraham, and three daughters, Elizabeth, Helen, and Agnes. This union was severed by the death of the wife and mother on March 12, 1922. While living at Hillsboro he was a member of the Brudertal Mennonite church and was active in the work of the church.

On Nov. 4, 1923, Bro. Bergman was married to Elizabeth Jantzen, and they made their home at Hillsboro until 1926, when they moved to Newton. While in Newton, they united with the First Mennonite church, where Father Bergman received many blessings from God. He remained a faithful and devoted member of this church until the time of his death. His faith and trust was in the Lord Jesus Christ and he had a longing to go home to be in heaven with the Lord.

He was a dear loving father in the home. He loved to sing and listen to the singing of gospel songs, and he knew many of the German hymns by memory. Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and by the grace of God we hope to meet again.

Father Bergman fell asleep in Jesus on March 25, 1948, at the age of 92 years six months and 14 days. He was preceded in death by his first wife; one daughter, Elizabeth, who died May 27, 1910; one son, Abraham, who died May 15, 1943; four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, three sisters and three brothers. He was the last one of the Johann Bergman family to follow his loved ones to Glory.

Those who remain to mourn his death are his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Bergman; one son. Cornelius F. Bergman and wife Maria of Newton; two daughters, Helen and her husband, Jacob M. Funk of Littlefield, Texas, and Agnes and her husband. William B. Wohlgemuth, West Salem, Oregon; 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and many friends.

O Heart of God, our home lies deep in Thee,
On earth thou art an exile's rest.
In heaven the Glory of the blest, O Heart of God.
O Heart of God.

Services at the First Mennonite church of Newton on Monday afternoon, March 29, 1948, were in charge of Rev. D. J. Unruh and Rev. J. E. Entz. Interment was made in the Brudertal cemetery, Hillsboro with Rev. Arnold Funk officiating at the graveside services.

The Mennonite obituary: 1948 Jun 1 p. 12

MLA Personal Photos Collection

Biographical note:
Kursk, Russia
s/o Johann and Elizabeth (Warkentin) Bergmann
Married Katharina Funk 1879 August 5, Hillsboro, Kansas (1858-1922)
Married Elizabeth Jantzen 1923 November 4, Hillsboro, Kansas (1884-1962)
Farmer -- Hillsboro, Kansas 1879-1926
Lived in Newton, Kansas 1926-1948

Bethel alumni note:

Photo holdings:
With wife 1 and three children -- c. 1887, Lehigh, Kansas
With wife 1 and four children -- 1891 El Reno, Oklahoma

Sources:
Photo back
El Reno photo from Rosa Schmidt Kaufman 1990
Gemeindebuch ... Brudertal p. 103 (old book)
Grandma Online profile 30885
Find A Grave 171439558