Ensz, William Gerhard (1918-1945)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1945 Jul 26 p. 3, 8

Birth date: 1918 Dec 8

text of obituary:

CPS Man Drowned at Camino, California

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR WM. G. ENSZ AT BEATRICE, NEBRASKA, JULY 14

Beatrice, Nebr. — Funeral services for William G. Ensz were held here Saturday, July 14. William, who had been stationed at a CPS Camp in Camino, California, passed away Sunday, July 8. His death occurred while he and several of his friends from the camp were swimming in a river near Placerville. The doctor summoned immediately pronounced the death a drowning possibly due to heart attack.

Brief memorial services were held at the Camino Camp. Willard Claassen, also a member of the First Mennonite church here and a campee at the same camp accompanied the body to Beatrice.

Rev. Jacob T. Friesen conducted the services at the Harmon Mortuary. His words of comfort and encouragement to members of the family, relatives, and friends were based on Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

A men's octet composed of Edgar Wiebe, Jacob Friesen, John K. Wiebe, Robert Claassen, Richard Wiebe, John Thimm, Robert Esau, and Walter Schmidt accompanied by Miss Marjorie Thimm sang "Jesus Savior Pilot Me" and "Shall We Meet"

Rev. C. Penner and Rev. Walter H. Dyck officiated at the First Mennonite church. After the congregation sang the song, "Die Liebe Darf Wohl Weinen." Rev. Penner read Romans 8:28-39 and led in prayer. His German meditation was based on John 21:7. Rev. Dyck's message was taken from Eccl. 7:2-3. "Lebt Wohl" and "Nearer My God to Thee" were selections sung by the octet.

Interment was in the church cemetery. The octet sang, "Going Down the Valley" and Rev. Dyck read I Cor. 15:51-58 and spoke the committal prayer.

William Gerhard Ensz, son of Gerhard and Barbara (Jantzen) Ensz, was born near Beatrice, Nebr. on December 8, 1918. He received his elementary training in Jefferson county, also later attending the Mennonite Bible Academy.

On May 16, 1937, he made his public confession of faith in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. He was baptized by Elder Franz Albrecht and joined the membership of the First Mennonite church. In an effort to improve his health he made several extended visits to the Western states. In 1942 he took a special course at the Coyne Electrical School in Chicago. A little later he took up work as caretaker at the Mennonite Hospital in Beatrice.

He always showed an active interest in Sunday School and church work, including the various activities of the Fellowship. On May 15 of this year he was called into "work of national importance," and was stationed at C. P. S. Camp No. 31, near Camino, California.

He was unexpectedly called to his reward on Sunday, July 8, at 5 p.m. He attained the age of 26 years and 7 months. A fitting tribute offered by a friend present at the time of his passing reads: "We as a camp will certainly miss willie as one of our fellow-campers even though he has only been with us for a rather short time. Willie was a friend to everyone here in camp and was very well liked and appreciated by all. he took a deep and sincere interest in the religious program, attended prayer meetings and Sunday Services regularly and at present was enrolled in a special correspondence Bible study class. We have the assurance that Willie was ready and happy to meet his God." He leaves his parents, three sisters, one brother, and a large circle of relatives and friends.

I cannot say, and I will not say
     That he is dead, he is just away —
With a cheery smile and a wave of the hand
     He has wandered into an unknown land.

And left us dreaming how very fair
     It needs must be, since he lingers there,
And you— O you — who the wildest yearn
     For the old-time step and the glad return

think of him faring on — as dear
     In the love of There, as the love of Here
think of him still as the same, I say
     He is not dead — He is just away.

— James Whitcomb Riley

The Mennonite obituary: 1945 Jul 24 p. 12