Franz, John Martin (1884-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Oct 21 p. 10

Birth date: 1884 Oct 5

text of obituary:

Death Claims Retired Minister in Oregon

Salem, Ore. — Funeral services were held at Grace Mennonite Church here Oct. 2 for Rev. John M. Franz, 86, long-time minister and evangelist of the General conference Mennonite Church. He died Sept. 29 at a Salem hospital. Rev. Ted Fast and Rev. Allen R. Tschiegg officiated at the services.

A native of Mt. Lake, Minn., Rev. Franz graduated from the Mt. Lake Bible Academy and from Moody Bible Institute in 1912. He was ordained as an evangelist in 1914 and as elder in 1917. He served pastorates at Iberia, Mo., in Canada, Montana, and Washington, coming to Oregon in 1923.

Here he served the Grace Church for a time, and then was pastor of the Pratum Mennonite Church near Salem for 15 years. Since 1939 he has been pastor at Albany, at Grace Church, and served in various interim pastorates. He was minister at large of the Pacific District Conference for two years.

Rev. Franz retired from the full-time ministry in 1950.

Survivors include four sons, Rufus of Eugene, Ewald and Dr. Landy Franz, both of Salem, and Arthur of Lincoln City; 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; four brothers and two sisters.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Nov 18 p. 11

text of obituary:

REV. JOHN M. FRANZ

John Martin Franz was born near Mountain lake, Minn. on Oct. 5, 1884. After completing his elementary education in the district school, he attended the Mountain Lake Bible Academy from which he graduated in 1904 as a member of the first graduating class.

For a short period of time during 1908 he attended Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. He taught elementary school for four years near Mountain Lake. Following this, he completed a program of religious education for the Christina ministry at the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, from which he graduated in 1912.

He continued to be a student of the Bible all his life. In June of this year he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity by the Evangelical Bible School and Seminary of Chicago in a special ceremony at the Immanuel Mennonite Church, Pratum, Oregon.

Our father gave his heart to the Lord Jesus Christ and received Christian baptism from Elder H. H. Regier on July 8, 1906. He united with the Bethel Mennonite Church at Mountain Lake. In 1914 he was ordained as an evangelist by Elder David Toews at Rosthern, Sask. In 1917 he was ordained an elder by Elder Henry H. Regier at the Bethlehem Mennonite Church, Bloomfield, Mont.

For more than 50 years he was engaged in pastoral work. He served ten different churches beginning in Iberia, Mo., then Canada, Montana, Washington and Oregon. His longest pastoral stay was at the Immanuel Mennonite Church of Pratum, where he served 15 years. For two years he was the minister-at-large of the Pacific District Conference. The Lord used him in conducting evangelistic meetings in many churches throughout the span of his ministry.

On Oct. 11, 1908, he was married to Regina Hamm, who preceded him in death Feb. 7, 1968, after over 59 years of married life. Born to them were four sons, all living in Oregon. They are Rufus of Eugene, Edward and Landy, both of Salem, and Arthur of Lincoln City. He is survived by them and their families, namely 12 grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. Four brothers and two sisters also mourn his departure. They are Jacob, Peter and Samuel of Mountain Lake and Ferdinand of Los Angeles, Calif., Mrs. Elizabeth Linshied of San Diego, Calif. and Mrs. Frieda Royer of Arcadia, Calif. Our home and family has always been blessed by the experience of much love and affection to each member.

About the middle of July this year his health began to fail quite markedly. During his stay in the hospital and convalescent home he continued to exhibit great patience, gratefulness, and an unfailing trust in his Lord that He would "never fail him or forsake him." At his passing on Wednesday morning, Sept. 29, 1971, he attained the age of 87 years less six days.

The fellowship and communion with his Lord through prayer was characteristic of him throughout his lifetime. his favorite Bible verse was Matt. 6:33: "Seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." In his own words he wrote, "I chose the ministry after my conversion to devote my life where it would count the most for the Lord Jesus Christ." It is our prayer that God will continue to multiply his ministry. — The Franz Family.

The Mennonite obituary: 1971 Nov 2 p. 655