Bixel, Samuel S. (1875-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Dec 3 p. 7

Birth date: 1875 May 18

text of obituary:

PROMINENT RETIRED FARMER DIED

Pandora, Ohio. — Funeral services for Samuel S. Bixler [sic Bixel], 78, well known retired farmer of the Bluffton community, were held recently at the Ebenezer Mennonite church. He died suddenly at his home Nov. 6 while doing the noon chores.

Mr. Bixler [sic Bixel] had been a deacon, trustee and Sunday school superintendent at the Ebenezer church, and taught in the Sunday school for more than 50 years. In addition he served as a township trustee and member of the Bluffton Board of Education.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Dec 10 p. 9

text of obituary:

S. S. BIXEL

S. S. Bixel was born May 18, 1875, in Allen County, Ohio and died suddenly with coronary thrombosis at his home four miles west of Bluffton, Ohio at the age of 78 years, five months, 19 days.

He was a member of the Ebenezer Mennonite church where he held the offices of deacon, trustee, church treasurer, and Sunday School superintendent at various times, and also taught a Sunday school class continuously for over 50 years. He was a member of the Association of Christian Laymen and served on the Advisory Committee of the Mennonite Memorial Home. He served two terms as Richland township trustee and on the Bluffton-Richland Board of Education.

All his life he was engaged in farming and was intensely interested in improving crops and soils. He readily accepted new and progressive methods of farming and was one of the first in Allan county to produce hybrid corn for seed. He was influential in getting hundreds of farmers started in planting hybrid corn instead of open pollenated [sic].

He was married to Ella Niswander, who died in 1926, and was married again on Oct. 4, 1936, to Mary Hilty, who survives.

Eight children living are: Stanley, Edgar, Mrs. Odessa Amstutz, Hilda, Mrs. Sevila Niswander of Bluffton; Phares of Columbus Grove; Mrs. Magdalena Albrecht, Fortuna, Mo.; Mrs. Dorothy Killam, Loveland, Colo. Also surviving are 22 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and one brother, Menno of Lima.

Preceding him in death were one infant daughter, Marie, five brothers and five sisters.

Services were held in the Ebenezer Mennonite church with Rev. Howard Landes officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.

The Mennonite obituary: 1953 Dec 29 p. 800