Entz, John E. (1875-1969)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1969 Oct 2 p. 3

Birth date: 1875 Aug 5

text of obituary:

Elder Emeritus of Newton First Church Dies at Age 94

A widely attended funeral was held Monday afternoon at the First Mennonite Church of Newton for Rev. John E. Entz, elder emeritus of the congregation, who died unexpectedly on Friday evening. He was 94.

Rev. Entz became ill while attending the Bethel College Corporation meeting in North Newton, and was pronounced dead on arrival at Bethel Deaconess Hospital. Death was due to an apparent heart attack.

Upon his ordination in 1903, Rev. Entz became one of the ministers of the Newton church. He subsequently served the congregation as elder for 29 years, from 1917 to 1946, when he was named elder emeritus.

Born in Marienburg, Germany on Aug. 5, 1875, he came to America with his parents in 1882.

His first wife died in 1934, and an adopted daughter, Ruth Elizabeth, died in March 1937. Later that year he married Anna Epp, who survives with one sister, Mrs. E. M. Harder of Newton.

Rev. Entz attended the Halstead Seminary for three years, and later attended Bethel College from which he graduated in 1905. He served on the board of directors of Bethel Deaconess Hospital and Home for 45 years, and as president of the board for 30 years. He also served on the boards of Bethel College, 1921-1938, and of the Herald Publishing Company, 1946-1958.

The funeral service was conducted by Rev. Arnold Epp, pastor of First Mennonite Church, and Rev. Waldo Harder, president of Grace Bible Institute, Omaha.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1969 October 16 p. 15

text of obituary:

REV. J. E. ENTZ

J. E. Entz, son of Abraham and Marie Busenitz Entz, was born in Marienburg, Germany on Aug. 5, 1875. He came to America with his parents in 1882, and they located on a farm east of Newton. Here he grew to young manhood.

Upon his marriage to Elsie Bergman of Whitewater, Kan. on Nov. 16, 1905 they built their home across the road from the parental home. This continued to be his home until he was translated unexpectedly to his Heavenly Home on Sept. 26, 1969. They adopted a daughter, Ruth Elizabeth, on March 11, 1926. She was dearly loved. This daughter died suddenly while at the Torry School, a Christian school for girls in Montrose, Pa. in March of 1937.

His beloved companion of almost 29 years of marriage died after a long illness in May of 1934. The home had become silent and lonely.

In June 1937 he was married to Anna Epp, who remains to cherish his memory. Also surviving is his only sister, Mrs. E. M. Harder. The many nephews and nieces will miss him as well.

He attended elementary school in Germany and rural Newton. Later he spent three years at the Halstead Seminary and from 1903-1905 he attended Bethel College, graduating in 1905.

His godly parents had instilled into the hearts of their children a love for the Word of God and a deep respect for and loyalty to the church, which deepened as the years advanced. However, it was not without deep soul searching and much prayer that he accepted the call of the church into the ministry in 1903.

He had been baptized upon confession of faith May 21, 1893 by Elder Jacob Toews. His baptismal verse of blessing is found in Psalm 73:24-26.

On Nov. 1, 1903, his uncle Bernhard Regier was ordained into the ministry. Rev. Entz's ordination occurred at the same time. For a text for his first sermon as an ordained minister of the Gospel he used Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." This message was the basic theme of his continued ministry for more than 43 years.

He particularly loved the work with the catechism class, spending much time in preparation and prayer, especially for the individual members. His prayer life was one of intercession. Often he said, "We must be faithful in praying for our youth."

He baptized 368 persons during his ministry and added 793 members to the fellowship of the church.

Twice during his ministry he participated in the building program of the church. However, his interests in the work of the Lord included wider areas, such as the activities of the Western District Conference and the General conference, Bethel College, Bethel Deaconess Hospital and Home for Aged, and the Mennonite Biblical Seminary.

He was permitted during his long ministry to ordain ministers, missionaries and deaconesses. He had the gift to make a festive occasion festive.

He served on the Board of Directors of the Bethel Deaconess Hospital and Home for 45 years, being president of the board for 30 years. He also served on the Bethel College Board of Directors, 1921-1938, and the Herald Publishing company Board, 1946-1958.

Psalm 116:15, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."

Memorial services were conducted at the First Mennonite Church on Monday afternoon, Sept. 29. Rev. Arnold Epp, the pastor, and Rev. Waldo Harder, president of Grace Bible institute, Omaha, Neb., officiated.

The Mennonite obituary: 1969 Oct 14 p. 616