Buller, Peter (1863-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Jan 12 p. 1

Birth date: 1863 Feb 15

text of obituary:

Services Held For Pioneer Minister

REV. PETER BULLER, 92, WAS AMONG IMMIGRANTS FROM RUSSIA IN 1874

Goessel, Kan. — Funeral services for Rev. Peter Buller, 92, a pioneer minster of this community and one of the few remaining immigrants of the year 1874, were held Tuesday afternoon in the Goessel Mennonite Church, Rev. Leo Miller, Rev. P. P. Buller and Rev. P. A. Wedel officiated.

Rev. Buller died at his home in Goessel Friday night, Jan. 6.

Born in South Russia on Feb. 15, 1863, he came to this country with the Alexanderwohl group in 1874, when 11 years of age. Following his ordination he served as a minister of the Alexanderwohl congregation here, and beginning in 1920, as a minister of the daughter church, the Goessel Mennonite Church. He retired from the active ministry in 1944.

Survivors include his wife, the former Mary Warkentin, seven children and a number of grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Feb 2 p. 8

text of obituary:

REV. PETER BULLER

Peter Buller, son of Jacob and Maria Buller, was born Feb. 15, 1863, in Alexanderwohl, South Russia, and died Jan. 7, 1956, in their home in Goessel, Kan. at the age of 92 years, 10 months, 23 days.

He began his education in the village school in Russia and continued it after coming to America in the great immigration in 1874 in the elementary school of those early years. Later he attended a preparatory school in Halstead. He had a very real part in the hardships and deprivations that go with pioneer life.

On Oct. 8, 1882, he was baptized upon his confession of faith by his father, Elder Jacob Buller, and joined the Alexanderwohl church. Dec. 2, 1886, he was united in marriage to Maria Klassen, with whom he shared joy and sorrow till Oct. 7, 1902, when she preceded him in death. To this union were born seven children.

On Sept. 24, 1903, he was united in marriage to Maria Warkentin. This union lasted 52 years.

On Feb. 15, 1896, he was elected as minister of the Gospel in the Alexanderwohl church where he served until the Goessel Mennonite church was organized on April 15, 1920. He then joined the Goessel church as a charter member and served as a minister till 1943 when he resigned from active service on account of his health and old age. At first he was somewhat reluctant to accept the position of minister to which he had been elected, but after he had consented he found that there were many things he could render in his own way by God's grace and help in service for his Master, which brought many a blessing to his heart.

The text for his first sermon was Psalm 121:1, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help."

His strong faith in God, his love for Christ his Saviour and the testimony he could give for his faith and hope will always be remembered by his family.

He leaves to mourn his departure his widow, Maria Buller; his children, Paul Buller of Goessel, Mrs. A. S. Reimer of Goessel, Mr. and Mrs. John Distio of Wichita, Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Buller of Newton, Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Schmidt of Hesston, Mr. and Mrs. P. S. Buller of Goessel, and Mr. and Mrs. John P. Buller of Manhattan; 24 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; one sister, Sara Buller of the Bethesda Home; and one brother, J. J. Buller of California. — The Family.