Boehr, Jennie May Gottshall (1892-1936)

Revision as of 11:29, 16 May 2013

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1936 Mar 31 p. 14

Birth date: 1892

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1936 Mar 4 p. 1

Rev. P. H. Richert, secretary of the Foreign Mission Board of the General Conference, submitted the following telegram for publication in the Mennonite Review. The message was sent by Rev. Howard G. Nyce from Allentown, Pa. and is dated Mar. 4

"Mrs. Boehr died three-thirty P.M. Funeral will be held Monday. Service First Reformed Church, Quakertown, A.M. and Eden Mennonite Church, Schwenksville, P.M. Rev. Neuenschwander will have one service and I the other to represent the Board."

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1936 Mar 11 p. 5

On Monday afternoon, March 9, beneath the sod grown over the foundation of the Meetinghouse, in which her father and grandfather preached, the remains of Jennie (Gottshall) Boehr were laid to rest. This service came at the close of a day of mourning and of tributes.

Two services were held. The first in the Reformed church, Quakertown; the second in the Eden Mennonite church, Schwenksville. Many gathered at both places to pay a last tribute to the missionary mother, whose going seemed to be so untimely.

The service in Quakertown was held in the forenoon. At 10:30 o'clock a large audience gathered to listen to the tributes to be paid to the departed. The service was in charge of Rev. Andrew J. Neuenschwander. The main message of the morning was given by Rev. Howard G. Nyce, Eastern District representative on the Foreign Mission board. others participating were Rev. Stoudt, pastor of the Reformed church, friend of the family; Rev. E. J. Bohn, president of Eastern District Conference; Rev. D. J. Unruh, pastor of grace Mennonite church, Lansdale; and Rev. Allen M. Fretz, veteran pastor of the conference.

Bro. Nyce chose as his text John 13: 7. "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." he called the attention of the assembly to the parallel circumstances, stressing the place that Sister Boehr filled in her family and her usefulness on the mission field.

A tribute in the form of a personally composed poem was read by Miss Frieda Sprunger, missionary on furlough. Several telegrams and radiograms were read in connection with an interesting obituary.

The service at Schenksville [sic Schwenksville], the Meetinghouse of her childhood, was held in the afternoon. it was in charge of Rev. Freeman H. Swartz, pastor of the Eden congregation. The sermon was preached by Rev. A. J. Neuenschwander. Rev. E. J. Bohn, Rev. D. J. Unruh, Rev. R. V. Stubbe and Rev. Sylvan Lehman assisted in this service.

As a text Bro. Neuenschwander chose Acts 20: 24, "None of these things moved me. . . ." In very appropriate and very forceful manner he outlined the life of the departed Missionary and drew parallel illustrations. He had known her as a fellow-student at Bluffton College. Later he noted her sincerity as she was active on the field. As a pastor he had observed her work. As friend of family — Bro. Neuenschwander and Bro. Gottshall live on the same street, only several blocks apart — he had observed how that even in sickness "Jennie" had set her face to go to China, looking for God to supply the aid, when human physicians failed. And touchingly he paid tribute to the joy of her faith and"the sufficiency of the grace of God in her suffering." A mixed quartet from the East Swamp congregation, of which Sister Boehr's father was pastor, sang three appropriate hymns. Also a verse of "Asleep in Jesus" at the grave.

A radiogram from five "Mennonite Nazarenes" was read. They saluted the family with john 11: 25. Floral tributes from friends abounded.

Among the hundreds that passed by her peaceful form, were not only members of the congregation of her father and of the Eastern District Conference, but also strangers — friends the Boehrs had made during their sojourn in the homeland. Even pastors of other denominations paused to pay tribute to her memory. Indeed her out-going was glorious.

She leaves to mourn her, a husband, four boys and two small girls; her aged and beloved parents. Rev. and Mrs. William Gottshall; two brothers and a sister. "A host of friends, some of a strange tongue, will rise and call her name and memory blessed."

There in the graveyard of the Old Gottshall Meetinghouse, on the spot where once stood the Meetinghouse in which her grandfather and father were ordained and preached, waiting for the Resurrection Call at the Coming of our Lord, rests the body of Jennie Boehr.

The Mennonite obituary: 1936 Mar 17 p. 13
The Mennonite obituary: 1936 Mar 24 p. 14
The Mennonite obituary: 1936 Mar 31 p. 12