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Brenneman, William J. (1879-1957)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Nov 7 p. 12
Birth date: 1879 Dec 3
text of obituary:
IOWA MINISTER DIES
Kalona, Iowa. — Rev. William J. Brenneman, retired minister of the (Old) Mennonite Church, died Oct. 31 of a heart attack. Funeral services were held at the Lower Deer Creek church in charge of Laurence Horst of Chicago.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Nov 21 p. 7
text of obituary:
Retired Missionary Fatally Stricken After Taking Part in Service at Chicago Church
SERVICES FOR WILLIAM O. [sic J.] BRENNEMAN HELD AT IOWA CITY, IOWA
Chicago, Ill. — William O. [sic J.] Brenneman, 78, Old Mennonite minister and a city mission worker in Chicago for 30 years, died at his home in Iowa City, Iowa on Oct. 21 several weeks after taking part in the 64th anniversary services at the Union Avenue Mennonite Church.
Bro. Brenneman, who was accompanied to Chicago by his wife, Alice, participated in the anniversary services, giving his testimony and exhorting the believers to greater love for one another. The following day, Sept. 16, he became seriously ill and was not able to return home to Iowa City for two weeks. He died of a coronary ailment shortly after returning home.
Funeral services were held at the Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church on Nov.2.
Bro. Brenneman was ordained to the ministry at the 26th Street Mennonite Mission in Chicago in 1924. When that mission closed, he served at the Mennonite Home Mission, now the Union Avenue Mennonite Church, of which he was a member at the time of his death.
In his quiet, unassuming way, he served and gave his testimony in rescue missions and assisted in summer Bibble schools at various Mennonite mission in Chicago. His associates said he was always ready to witness for Christ, and to speak a word of testimony to those he met in everyday contacts. He considered it a supreme privilege to witness for his Lord.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Nov 28 p. 3
text of obituary:
. . .
The article appearing in last week's Review concerning the death of Rev. Brenneman at Iowa City, Iowa gave an incorrect middle initial. The name was William J. Brenneman, instead of William O. Brenneman.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Dec 12 p. 8
text of obituary:
WILLIAM J. BRENNEMAN
William J. Brenneman, son of Jacob P. and Mary (Yoder) Brenneman, was born Dec. 3, 1878, and went to be with his Lord Oct. 31, 1957, at Iowa City, Iowa.
He was married to Alice Shaffer Guyer in 1921. She with a son, Emanuel J. and two grandchildren of Iowa City mourn his going.
Other survivors are a sister, Mrs. Dan Horst, and a brother, Daniel Brenneman, both of Wellman, Iowa.
In youth he accepted Christ at which time he was received into the West Union Mennonite Church. He lived a consistent Christian life. He was an early leader in daily vacation Bible school in several different churches.
He was a home man; his family was much in is mind. With glistering eyes that betrayed a kind heart, he would speak of his wife, son and grandchildren, and as a minister of the Gospel, he loved people. He loved youth, and was happy when working with them in boys clubs in Chicago, and in daily vacation Bible school.
He early saw the power of God manifested through the Holy Spirit in miraculous ways and urged the need of the people believing the Word of God concerning these things.
Rev. Laurence Horst and John T. Swartzendruber were in charge of the services. The body rests in the Upper Deer Creek Mennonite Cemetery. — Mrs. Wm. J. Brenneman.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Oct 30 p. 6
text of obituary:
WILLIAM J. BRENNEMAN — IN MEMORIUM [sic MEMORIAM]
William J. Brenneman, our dear husband and father, went to be with his Lord on Oct. 31, 1957. He has been greatly missed by his wife and son, and also by Florence and the two grandchildren, Elaine and Bobbie. The only unkindness he ever did was to leave us, but God knew what was best.
On Sunday, Oct. 12, 1958, at an impressive service in the Church of the Brethren at Mt. Carroll, Ill., a bulletin board was presented and dedicated. It was a gift from the wife and son of William J. Brenneman, who was pastor of this church during 1925 and 1926. — Mrs. Alice Brenneman and son, E. J. Brenneman. (43pd)