Engbrecht, John J. (1883-1954)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Dec 9 p. 1

Birth date: 1883 Oct 9

text of obituary:

WELL-KNOWN SOUTH DAKOTA MINISTER

CALLED AWAY IN DEATH

Marion, S. D. – Funeral services for Rev. John J. Engbrecht, well known retired minister and a resident of this community most of his life took place Nov. 24 at Pioneer Hall, Freeman College. He died Nov. 20 at the age of 71.

In early life he served a group at Woodlake, Calif. under the Mennonite Home Mission Board, returning to South Dakota in 1920. In 1926 he founded the Sunnyside Bible School here, and he and his family traveled widely in the United States and Canada, giving programs in the interest of the school.

He leaves his wife, the former Eva Berg; three children and five grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Mar 24 p. 8

text of obituary:

REV. JOHN J. ENGBRECHT

Rev. John J. Engbrecht our beloved husband and father, son of John D. and Maria Tieszen Engbrecht, was born Oct. 9, 1883, two miles south of Dolton, South Dakota, and departed to his heavenly home on Nov. 20, 1954, at the age of 71 years, one month and 11 days.

He spent his boyhood days on a farm. He accepted Christ as his personal Saviour, and was baptized by Rev. Derk Tieszen on June 3, 1903, and united with the Bethesda Mennonite church.

On Oct. 11, 1903, he was united in holy wedlock with Maria Berg. To this union were born three children: Rosa Maria, Elizabeth Esther, and Sarah Anna.

Early in life he felt a deep call to go into the work of the Lord, upon which both he and his wife dedicated their lives unto God for preparation to go as missionaries to India. For these preparations he first went to Freeman College, then attended one term at Yankton College, and later one term at the Huntington Park Training School. Also further preparations were undertaken at the Lindlay Sanitarium in Chicago.

A call was received and answered faithfully to serve the Lord in Woodlake, Cailf. [sic Calif.] under the Mennonite Home Mission Board. This first venture of faith enriched their lives, the children often finding them praying in the corn field, and God gave them blessings not a few in those years.

In 1920 they returned to South Dakota, where they continued to serve God in any way permitted. He practiced chiropractic and naturapathy [sic] for the next few years and with this practice he ministered to many both spiritually and physically.

In 1923 on Thanksgiving morning, in their home, the Lord made his Deeper Experience so real that the flame of divine love in his heart and life toward God and his fellowmen was constantly increasing, which many observed.

When the mission door to India did not open, many other doors of opportunity opened to serve the Lord. The burden increased for a work at home to enable youth, otherwise not privileged, to be trained for Christian work. This was realized through the Sunnyside Bible School, started in 1926. For 20 years through prayer and arduous labor the work grew. Many tours were made, the whole family would sing, testify and do their part in the many programs held in the United States and Canada. He was an inspiration to many, and God used his clear ringing testimony to the salvation of the lost, and enriching the saved.

Throughout his Christian life he was always anxious to give of his best to his Master. This was especially shown in his generous contributions to many Christian fields of labor, often at a sacrifice of personal enjoyment for himself of his family. This will be carried out even through his death through the dedication of the receipts from Sunnyside Chapel and 40 acres of farm land to missionary goals.

On Jan. 16, 1941, the Lord saw fit to take his life’s companion, after having shared joys and sorrows for 37 years, three months and five days.

On August 19, 1942, he was united in holy wedlock with Eva Berg, sharing joy and sorrow with her for 12 years, three months and one day. She lovingly and tenderly cared for him during the four and one-half years of his illness.

On Feb. 1, 1945, he was preceded in death by his youngest daughter, Sarah Anna Crum.

In the spring of 1950 his health began to fail. Having been of a frail and nervous constitution, when further anemic conditions arose he became inactive and retired from public life. He went to his reward at 5:40 Saturday morning, Nov. 20.

He leaves to rejoin him in heaven: his wife Eva; his children and grandchildren, Rosa Maria and Harry Bos of Glendale, Calif., Elizabeth and Abraham Becker and son, Stephen Bruce, of Rapid City, So. Dak., Mr. and Mrs. Edward Crum and daughters Elizabeth, Sylvia, Ruth Ann, and sons Ted Allen and Karl of Kansas City, Kans.; foster sister Anna Engbrecht of Marion, S. Dak.; and a host of relatives and friends, and former students, and graduates of Sunnyside Bible School.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at Pioneer Hall, Freeman. Officiating were Rev. T. A. van der Smissen, Rev. Henry Landis, Rev. H. J. Brown, and Rev. Hellmuth Berg. Music was rendered by the E. M. B. quartet and by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Becker. Mrs. Johanna Hofer was the organist. He was laid to rest in the Mennonite cemetery.