De Fehr, Cornelius Abraham (1881-1979)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1979 Mar 02 p. 33

Birth date: 1881 Oct 06

text of obituary:

CORNELIUS ABRAHAM DEFEHR

On February 11, the Lord took to himself Cornelius A. DeFehr of Winnipeg, a faithful servant, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was born on October 6, 1881, in the village of Einlage, in southern Russia, to Abraham and Helena (nee Peters) DeFehr. When Cornelius was seven his parents moved to Petrowka, where he received his few years of formal education in a Russian school. As a 14 year old, through Bible studies conducted by Jakob Reimer and Abram Wall, Cornelius became one of a number who responded to the call of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was converted and baptized, joining the Mennonite Brethren Church in Petrowka. In Petrowka he also met Elizabeth Dyck, the daughter of Elder William Dyck, whom he married on November 13, 903. Soon after, they moved to Millerowo, where six children were born to them, though two of them died in infancy.

In Millerowo, Cornelius became a partner in a rapidly growing firm building farm implements, together with his brother-in-law Cornelius Martens and his father-in-law William Dyck. It operated under the name Martens, DeFehr and Dyck. The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 was the start of difficult times for them, eventuating in the evolution, the typhus epidemic-which efected Cornelius as well-flight from Milerowo, finding a new home in the Kuban region of Russia, meeting the challenges of hunger, anarchy and civil strife, until the decision was made to find a new home in Canada. The famiy came to Canada in September 11, 1925 and made heir first home in Gnadenthal, in southern Manitoba. Cornelius soon began to lay the foundation for the family business enterprise. His three sons and son in-law joined him and they prospered. He also gave himself generously to the Lord's service within his home church, in the conference and through Mennonite Central Committee (and its predecessor boards in Canada) to the larger Mennonite brotherhood. He took part in the build ingup of the MCI at Gretna, to the MBCI, the Mennonite Brethren Bible College, the work of the Gideons and the Canadian Bible Society, the Christian Press and numerous other church causes. In 1947 and for a number of years after he was intimately involved in the development of new settlements for Mennonite refugees from Europe to Paraguay. He was a Christian trailblazer who combined faith with practice.

He and his wife were privileged to celebrate their silver, golden, diamond and finally their 65th wedding anniversary before she went to be with the Lord on March 23, 1972. His only daughter to reach adulthood, Liese Fast, passed away in 1976. His death is mourned by three sons and their wives, Abe and Velma, Cornelius and Agatha and William and Erna; 16 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren; one sister, Greta Reimer, in he Soviet Union, and many friends. Another sister passed away in Calgary only two days before him.

The funeral service was observed February 15 from the Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church with Henry Brucks of Winnipeg and Dr. John B. Toews of Fresno ministering. Interment was in the Elmwood cemetery.