Ensz, John H. (1888-1974)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Sep 5 p. 11

Birth date: 1888 Mar 26

text of obituary:

JOHN H. ENSZ

John H. Ensz, son of Henry and Maria Bergmann Ensz, was born March 26, 1888 at Hillsboro, Kan. He entered his heavenly home on July 6, 1974, at the age of 86.

His mother died when he was six years old, and his father died when he was 12. He received his early schooling in the district school and H. D. Penner's Preparatory School in Hillsboro.

He was baptized in 1906 by Rev. J. F. Herschler and became a member of the Johannestal Mennonite Church. He entered Bethel College and Newton, Kan. and received his A.B. degree in 1914 in the third class to be graduated from the college.

On June 13, 1913 at Buhler, Kan. he was married to Sara Schmidt, with whom he shared joys and sorrows for 61 years. To this union were born six children, two boys and four girls.

Forty years of his life were given to the work of a teacher and administrator in public schools, first in Kansas, then in Idaho, and from 1921 to 1952 in Visalia, Calif. He preferred to combine classroom teaching with his work as an administrator because he liked to keep contact with the students at a more personal level. In 1952 he retired and he and his wife moved to Reedley, Calif.

All of his life he was active in the church. Many people both visitors and members of the First Mennonite Church of Reedley, have memories of his warm smile and cordial handshake at the door of the church on Sunday mornings.

Seven years ago he suffered a stroke and was in impaired health from that time, but his interest and joy in people never left him. He entered Sierra View Homes in Reedley in February of this year, and there he endeared himself to all the staff and residents. On Saturday morning, July 6, he suffered a heart attack and in the afternoon he died.

Those remembering his life of loving thoughtfulness are his wife, Sara; his sons, Elmer of San Gabriel, Calif. and Harold of Beatrice, Neb.; his daughters, Mrs. Marianna Habegger of Reedley, Mrs. Adeline Sprunger of Canton, Okla., Mrs. Norma Jones of Grass Valley, Calif., and Mrs. Elda Suderman of Hillsboro, Kan.; one sister, Mrs. Mary Schmidt of Aberdeen,Idaho; 24 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.