Fricke, Samuel L. (1902-1947)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1947 Dec 18 p. 5

Birth date: 1902 Sep 7

text of obituary:

. . .

—Minister Sam L. Fricke, 45, of Cimarron died at 12:40 a.m. last Friday in the Bethesda Hospital in Goessel after many weeks of illness. An exceptionally large gathering of relatives and friends attended the funeral at the Lonetree church near Galva on Sunday forenoon. Immediately after the services the body was taken to Cimarron for another service with the congregation of which he was the minister. Burial also took place there. Rev. Fricke is survived by his wife and 11 children. A brother, John G. Fricke, who had come with this wife from Middleton, Mich., to attend the funeral, stopped in at the Review office for a short visit on Tuesday. Their aged father, the well known F. C. Fricke, died several months ago.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Jan 1 p. 3

text of obituary:

SAMUEL L. FRICKE

Our beloved husband and father, Samuel L. Fricke, was born near Ithaca, Michigan on Sept. 7, 1902, where he grew to manhood. At the age of 14 he became convicted of his sins and found peace with God, being added to the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, on Feb. 18, 1917.

On Nov. 23, 1924, he was united in marriage with sister Kathrine Mininger of near Ithaca. They shared joys and sorrows together for 23 years and 18 days.

On Dec. 10, 1934, he was ordained to the ministry of the Gospel by his father near Percio, Texas, where he presided at that time, later moving to Greensburg, Kansas and serving the church there. In 1944 he with his family moved to Cimarron, Kansas, where he helped reorganized the church and where he faithfully served until the Lord called him home.

He was much interested in the work of the Lord, which was his first concern, and tried to serve his Master and fulfill his calling whereunto the Lord had called him. He was a kind husband and father, always striving to meet the needs and requests of his loved ones.

While holding a series of meetings in Canada in the month of May, he noticed his health was failing, although he did not think it was serious and had faith and courage that he soon would feel better. He sought medical aid at different places.

Soon noticing that he was not improving, he felt led to come to eastern Kansas to seek aid. He was admitted to the Bethesda hospital, Goessel, Kansas, where the doctors pronounced that he was suffering from the dread disease of cancer, and that his case was hopeless unless the Lord would see fit to heal him.

When the doctors told him this message, although it was rather a sad message for him, he took it bravely and the Lord gave him strength to say, “Thy will be done.” When he thought of his beloved wife and children, the church and the lost and unsaved souls, he felt he still had a mission to fulfil in this world. But the Lord came real close to him and said He would care for his loved ones, the Church and the unsaved souls far better then [sic] he could. Then he surrendered all to Him and said, “Do just as seemeth good to Thee.” The Lord also came near to him and said he would ease his pain that he would not need to suffer too much.

He was at the hospital nearly 12 weeks, where the doctors and nurses did all they could for him, and kept him very comfortable and shared our sorrow with us. In all this time he never had a word of complaint and bore it all so patiently. He often told us how beautiful it would be in Heaven. and how he longed to go there, but would often say he didn’t deserve it. He often had his dear ones around his bedside, telling them to hold out faithful until the end, then they would all meet again. One would often hear him sing the song, “I’m Going Home to Die No More.”

He patiently waited for the Lord to come for him and on Friday morning, Dec. 12, at 12:45 his longing and wish was fulfilled and he peacefully fell asleep in Jesus, at the age of 45 years three months and five days.

He was preceded in death by his father, who passed away five months ago, one sister and his mother-in-law.

Those who mourn his all too early departure are his sorrowing wife; 11 children, Annabel (Mrs. Henry Smith), Homestead, Okla., Ruby (Mrs. Cecil Unruh), Garden City, Ruth, Mary, Johanna, Helen, Clarabel, Sammie, Bobby and Maynard of the home; three sons-in-law, three grandchildren, his mother, father-in-law, four brothers, four sisters and a host of relatives and friends.

Although we feel our beloved husband, father and son was much needed in the home, we realize God’s ways are best. As we sat by his bedside day after day, we could see his life was slowly fading away. So in sweet submission, all in one, we said, “Our Father’s will be done.”

Funeral services were held at the Lonetree church near McPherson on Sunday forenoon, Dec. 14. Min. Frank Unruh opened with remarks and prayer. Min. J. A. Becker chose for his text 2 Tim. 4:7, 8 and Rev. 14:13. Additional thoughts by others. The body was then taken to his home at Cimarron; where brief services were held the afternoon of Dec. 15 by Min. David J. Koehn, Min. Edd Frank chose for his text Philippians 1:21-23 and Isa. 40:1.

Interment was made in the adjoining cemetery, with remarks and prayer by Min. Edd Frank. — The Family.