Dyck, Abraham J. (1888-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 May 7 p. 3

Birth date: 1888 Oct 14

text of obituary:

Retired Minister Called Away In Death

REV. A. J. DYCK PASSED AWAY IN HUTCHINSON HOSPITAL MAY 5

Buhler, Kan. — Rev. A. J. Dyck, 70, retired pastor of the Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church, of which he was elder for 21 years and previous to that associate pastor for 14 years, died at Grace Hospital in Hutchinson at 11 a. m., Tuesday, May 5, only a few minutes after entering the hospital.

Death was due to a heart attack. Rev. Dyck had been ill for about a month but was up and around even the day before his death.

Rev. Dyck was born in Harvey county on Oct. 14, 1888. On Aug. 30, 1912 he married Margaret Schmidt, who now survives him. They lived on the farm near the Hoffnunsau Church until 1953, when they moved to Buhler.

Rev. Dyck was active in the Western District and General conferences and was a former member of the board of directors of Bethel College, Bethel Deaconess Hospital and of the Herald Publishing Co. He had also been a public school teacher for eight years.

Among the immediate relatives surviving him are his wife; one son, Abe of Inman; five daughters, Mrs. Hilda Enns, Inman, Mrs. Lena Martens, Buhler, Mrs. Rosella Toevs and Mrs. Bertha Toews, both of Whitewater, all with their families, and Alma Ruth Dyck of El Dorado; two brothers, Peter J. and John, both of Buhler; two sisters, Mrs. Anna Nachtigal, Halstead, and Mrs. Sarah Nikkel, Buhler, and 14 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 9, at 9:00 a. m. at Butler's Chapel in Buhler, and at 9:45 a. m. in the Hoffnungsau Church. Rev. Albert Gaeddert, pastor of the church, will be in charge.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 May 21 p. 8

text of obituary:

REV. A. J. DYCK

Much too soon, it seems to us, Rev. A. J. Dyck was taken out of our midst. He had reached the three score and ten mentioned in Psalm 90, though in mind he had remained much younger always. He continued his keen interest in the Church to the very end of his days. Last Sunday morning, as on other Sundays, he was here in church with us. Now he belongs to the Ages!

Since 1914 Rev. Dyck had been a minister of the Gospel. He was called and ordained by his home congregation, and he felt this as a Call from God. Rev. Abraham Ratzlaff ordained him, and with him and other fellow-ministers he worked faithfully for the Cause of Christ in the Church. In August of 1925 the Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church ordained Rev. Dyck as elder of her congregation, the services of ordination taking place on Dec. 26, 1925. In this capacity he served the congregation for 21 years.

His long, faithful, and effective ministry has been cherished by the congregation. His ministry reached far beyond his local congregation, into the community, into the District Conference were he served on several committees and also as secretary of the conference for some years. His ministry likewise reached into the General Conference, in whose work, growth, and welfare he was deeply interested and concerned, and where too he served as vice-president for several terms.

The care of the sick in the hospitals was likewise a deep concern of his, and for many years he served on hospital boards, both of the Bethel Deaconess hospital and the Bethesda hospital, Goessel. He was a friend and strong supporter of Christian education and for many years served as board member at Bethel College.

Rev. Dyck was the son of Johann C. and Katharina (Ratzlaff) Dyck, and was born Oct. 14, 1888, in Harvey County, Kansas. He departed this life Tuesday morning, May 5, at 11 o'clock, due to a heart attack. The years of his life were 70, plus six months and 21 days. They were rich years — in the home, in the church, and in the larger community.

On August 30, 1912, he and Mrs. Dyck, the former Margaret Schmidt, were joined in marriage. Six children were born to this union: Hulda, Lena, Rosella, Abe, Bertha, and Alma Ruth. For nearly 47 years the parents enjoyed companionship and shared the joys and sorrows of the home.

Rev. Dyck leaves to mourn his early departure his beloved wife, Margaret; Hulda, Mrs. Waldo Enns, husband and son of Inman; Lena, Mrs. Menno Martens, husband and children of Buhler; Rosella, Mrs. Kenneth Toevs, husband and children of Whitewater; Abe, his wife Arlene and children of Inman; Bertha, Mrs. Herman Toevs, husband and children of Whitewater; and Alma Ruth, now working in a convalescent home in ElDorado. There are 14 grandchildren.

He leaves to mourn his departure also two brothers, Peter J. and John J., both of Buhler; two sisters, Mrs. Henry Nachtigal of Halstead, and Mrs. A. R. Nikkel of Buhler of Buhler; two stepbrothers, J. F. Schmidt and C. J. Schmidt of Buhler; three step-sisters, Mrs. A. J. Voth and Mrs. H. H. Ediger of Buhler; Mrs. H. H. Flaming of Las Cruces, New Mexico; and Mrs. H. F. Schmidt of Buhler. Two sisters, Mrs. A. B. Reimer and Mrs. J. F. Schmidt, preceded him in death, as did also three brothers who died in infancy. Besides these, there are a large number of nieces and nephews and other relatives and a large circle of friends.