Ensz, Gerhard B. (1885-1963)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 Jun 6 p. 5

Birth date: 1885 Dec 18

text of obituary:

Word was received here of the death of Gerhard B. Ensz, 77, retired farmer of Beatrice, Neb., which occurred there last Saturday. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the First Mennonite Church of Beatrice. Mr. Ensz spent part of his boyhood in the Newton area. Survivors include his widow, the former Barbara Jantzen; one son, Albert Ensz of Newton; and three daughters.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 Jul 4 p. 8

text of obituary:

GERHARD B. ENSZ

Gerhard Ensz, son of Gerhard and Marie Matthies Ensz, was born in Russia on Dec. 18, 1885. In 1894 he with his parents, brothers and sisters came to America. They first settled in the Newton, Kan. area where he spent most of his boyhood days and received his elementary education.

He was baptized on May 31, 1903 by Elder Jacob Toews and became a member of the First Mennonite Church in Newton. He later transferred his membership to the First Mennonite Church of Beatrice, Neb. where he was a member at the time of his death.

In 1906 the Ensz family moved to Beatrice, Neb. Here our father took up carpentry and farming as his life work. On March 7, 1918 he was united in marriage to Barbara Jantzen of Plymouth, Neb. Life's pathway was walked together for a little over 45 years. To this union were born five children: William, Johanna, Albert, Ruth and Dorothy.

On March 7, 1943 our parents celebrated their silver wedding anniversary with the children, many relatives and friends in a service of praise and thanksgiving. In 1945 our family had deep sorrow when the oldest son, William, at the age of 26, lost his life through a drowning accident while serving in a CPS camp in California.

After retirement from farming in 1957 our parents took up residence in Beatrice where father enjoyed fair health. The last five and a half weeks of his life he was hospitalized in the Mennonite Deaconess Hospital in Beatrice. After much suffering, the Lord called him home to Glory on the morning of June 1, at the age of 77 years.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; four children, Johanna Ensz of the home, Albert and Bertina Ensz and their children, Rhonda and Jon Lowell of Newton, Kan., Ruth and Leonard Schultz and their children, Joyce and Paul of Mt. Lake, Minn., Dorothy and Waldo Claassen and their children, Stephen and Dianne of Rural Wymore, Neb.; two brothers, Bernhard and Gustav Ensz; and four sisters, Mrs. Helen (Alex) Jantzen, Mrs. Anna (Cornelius) Jantzen, Mrs. Justine (John B.) Jantzen, and Minnie (Mrs. Abe) Epp, all of the Beatrice-Plymouth community, and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his son, William; his parents; two brothers and four sisters.

Friendly interest in people won him many friends wherever he lived and worked. He was always a regular church attendant and was devoted to the church and its message.

Memorial services were held June 4 at the First Mennonite Church of Beatrice, Neb., with Rev. Leo Miller officiating. Interment was made in the Mennonite cemetery at Beatrice.—The Family.

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The Mennonite obituary: 1963 Jun 26 p. 430

text of obituary:

Gerhard B. Ensz, First Church, Beatrice, Neb., born Dec. 18, 1885, in Russia and died June 1.