Burkhalter, Peter (1850-1940)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1941 Jan 28 p. 15

Birth date: 1850 Feb 4

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1941 Jan 1 p. 5

text of obituary:

Nonagenarian At Berne, Ind., Called To His Reward

WAS AMONG FIRST MEMBERS OF SUNDAY SCHOOL FOUNDED THERE 1874

Berne, Ind., Dec. 24. — Peter Burkhalter, aged 90, highly respected retired farmer, father and grandfather, passed away at his home Sunday night at 11:40 o'clock following a short illness. He was bedfast about a week and his death was attributed to arterio schlerosis and occurred at his home on Sprunger street.

A native of Sonceboz, Canton Berne, Switzerland, he came to this country with his parents and a group of devout Mennonites in the spring of 1852 and several months later — in August — from Wayne County, Ohio, to French township, Adams county. He was born February 4, 1850, the son of Hans and Verena Habegger Burkhalter.

The decedent was the only living member of the original personnel of the Mennonite Sunday school which was founded here on May 3, 1874. He had the distinction of being the first assistant superintendent, the Rev. S. F. Springer serving as leader.

Mr. and Mrs. Burkhalter started housekeeping on a farm one mile north of town on December 4, 1874 still owned by him and tenanted by Gordon Liechty. The 77-acre farm had only log buildings and he cleared the farm of most of the timebr [sic]. Later he constructed modern buildings.

Children born to the union and surviving are Amos, Menno and Miss Rachel all of Berne, Mrs. George (Lydia) Baumgartner and Mrs. Caroline Zook both of Fort Wayne, Miss Martha, Missionary in India, passing away in 1920, Herbert (Mary) Sprunger of Berne. — Berne Witness.

The Mennonite obituary: 1941 Feb 18 p. 13