Fretz, Jacob Rittenhouse (1886-1974)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Sep 19 p. 6

Birth date: 1886 Jul 22

text of obituary:

Retired Businessman, Church Leader Dies

Lansdale, Pa. — Funeral services were held at the Grace Mennonite Church here on Sept. 9 for Jacob R. Fretz, 88, retired businessman and for many years deacon of the congregation. He died Sept. 6 at the [remainder of sentence lacking in original]

Mr. Fretz was formerly active in the grocery business and as a bank employee here and was a leader in Lansdale civic affairs. He was one of the founders of the Grace Church in 1930, served on the Board of Trustees of Bluffton College (Ohio), and was active in Eastern District and General Conference church affairs.

Survivors include his widow Edith, and three sons, Millard of Wichita, Kan., Stanley of Lansdale, and Herbert of Goshen, Ind.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Sep 26 p. 9

text of obituary:

. . .

LANSDALE, PA. September 9, 1974

Jacob Rittenhouse Fretz died Sept. 6 in the nursing wing of Mennonite Home at Frederick, where he had been for six weeks after suffering a series of strokes. He was 88 years of age on July 22. A memorial service was held on Monday afternoon at Grace Church, Lansdale, with Pastor Robert L. Nissly and Rev. Irvin Rempel, pastor of Indian valley Church, officiating. Burial was made in the cemetery at Deep Run West Mennonite Church. Mr. Fretz was the leader in organizing Grace Mennonite Church 44 years ago. — O. R. Fretz

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Oct 17 p. 11

text of obituary:

JACOB RITTENHOUSE FRETZ

Jacob R. Fretz, son of Allen N. and Anna Rittenhouse Fretz, was born July 22, 1886, in Bedminster township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He was reared in Souderton, Pa. and was baptized by his father, Pastor Allen M. Fretz.

He was married to Mary E. Rickert at her parental home near Dublin, Pa. by his father on June 15, 1910. They lived their entire married life in Lansdale, Pa. where three sons were born and reared. "Mamie" passed on in 1957. Jacob was married to Edith Shelly Nice in 1958 and together they have lived at the Fretz home in Lansdale.

Jacob was graduated from Souderton High School, Perkiomen Seminary at Pennsburg, Pa., and Pierce School of Business in Philadelphia. He taught public school in Bucks and Montgomery counties, operated a grocery store on Broad Street, Lansdale, was employed in offices in Ambler and Philadelphia, for over 20 years, was a wholesale grocery salesman in southeastern Pennsylvania, and final was employed at the First National Bank, Lansdale, until his retirement in 1952.

During his busy life Jacob Fretz served as Lansdale Borough councilman, was president of the Lansdale Community Service, and was a member of the Board of Trustees of Bluffton College, Bluffton, Ohio. He was one of the founders of the Chalfont National Bank in 1924, and served as president of the Fretz Family Assn. for 25 years.

His greatest love, however, was for the Church of Jesus Christ. Through the years he was active as a member of the Zion Mennonite Church, Souderton, the Deep Run Mennonite Church, Bedminster, and was one of the organizers of the Grace Mennonite Church, Lansdale, in 1930. For many years he was the deacon of the church and teacher of the Men's Bible Class. He was active in Eastern District and General Conference Church affairs.

Jacob will be remembered as one who gave himself freely to the Mennonite Church, welcoming everyone, offering this time and car to transport the aged and needy to worship, and by his forceful presence in meetings, loving and serving the Lord and His people.

Vigorous until his last months, he entered nursing care at the Frederick Mennonite Home in July and passed on to be with the Lord Sept. 6, 1974, at the age of 88.

Those who remain include his wife, Edith, and her sons, Edgar Nyce and wife Ruth of Tafton, Pa. and Emerson Nyce and wife Carol of Biglerville, Pa.; Jacob's three sons, Millard of Wichita, Kan., Stanley of Lansdale, and Herbert of Goshen, Ind.; three daughters-in-law; seven grandchildren; two brothers and a sister, Ely Fretz and Agnes Detweiler of Frederick Mennonite Home and Osmond Fretz of Sellersville, Pa.

The funeral was held Sept. 9, 1974, at Grace Mennonite meetinghouse with Pastor Robert L. Nissly in charge and Pastor Erwin Rempel preaching on II timothy 4:7, 8, followed by burial at the Deep Run Mennonite (West) cemetery.