Cornelsen, Nettie L. Nikkel (1880-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Jan 17 p. 8

Birth date: 1880 Aug 24

text of obituary:

NETTIE L. CORNELSEN

Nettie L. (Nikkel) Cornelson was born on August 24, 1880, in Woodson County at Nikkeltown, Kansas.

On May 1, 1902, was united in marriage to David A. Cornelsen, at Hillsboro, Kansas. The Lord blessed this union with eight children, four sons and four daughters.

From 1906 to 1913 our parents operated a hardware business in Aulne, Kansas. Our parents were active in civic affairs. In Aulne father served on the school board for four years and in Hillsboro he served on the city council for 12 years. Because of father's health they moved to Dalhart, Texas in 1930. In 1938 they moved to a farm south of Fairview, Okla., and in 1944 bought a residence in Fairview where they resided in retirement until the Lord called them Home.

Our parents both realized their lost condition and in faith accepted Christ, and upon that confession were baptized on May 14,1922 and received into the fellowship of the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. When our parents moved to Fairview they transferred their membership to the South Church and in 1950 to the City Church. Our mother loved her church and it was always uppermost in her life. She often referred to its services in letters to her children. She was regular in church attendance to the very last. She was a very understanding mother and always possessed a youthful spirit. Her favorite passage of Scripture was Psalm 121 which meant very much to her particularly when father passed away. Although mother did not have much of this world's goods she was active in giving of her time and means to missions on a sacrificial basis.

It was the privilege of our parents to celebrate their golden wedding on May 1, 1952. Father passed away on Jan. 14, 1955. In spite of it mother lived with the assurance that "the Lord makes no mistakes." She passed away on Dec. 22, 1956, at the age of 76 years, three months and 30 days.

Left to mourn her departure are three sons, Howard of Houston, Texas, Arlyss of Powell, Wyoming, Don of La Mirada, Calif.; four daughters, Mrs. Edna Suderman of Hillsboro, Kansas, Mrs. Bessie Dykes of Bloomington, Calif., Ruby Taylor of Amarillo, Texas and Leona of Los Angeles, Calif., a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Herman Cornelsen of Arcata, Calif.; six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. Two brothers, C. L. Nikkel of Weatherford, Okla., and J. Leslie Nikkel of Wichita Falls, Texas, two sisters, Miss Justina Nikkel of Hillsboro, Kansas and Mrs. P. C. Hiebert of Hillsboro, Kansas, and one sister-in-law, Mrs. I. L. Nikkel of San Bernardino, Calif., also mourn her passing. Her son Herman preceded her in death in 1952.

We mourn her departure, but are assured that she is in glory awaiting a glorious reunion.

Funeral services were held Dec. 27, 1956, at the Fairview M. B. church, Rev. Loyal Funk and Rev. A. W. Epp officiating, Rev. J. J. Karber officiated at the graveside service at the South M. B. Cemetery. — The Family.