Gaede, Abraham A. (1876-1955)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Sep 1 p. 8

Birth date: 1876 May 31

text of obituary:

ABRAHAM A. GAEDE

Abraham A. Gaede, son of Abraham and Margaret Gaede, was born May 31, 1876, in Kuban, South Russia. He moved to the United States with his parents in 1879, settling at Hillsboro, Kansas. He received his education at the Creswell school near Hillsboro, Kansas.

On June 1, 1900, he was baptized at the age of 23, and received as a member of the Brudertal Mennonite church near Hillsboro, Kansas. Of this time he spoke recently when he remarked that he had had a genuine conversion experience with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

On Sept. 4, 1902, he was married to Ernestina Ratzlaff, daughter of John and Mary Ratzlaff of Hillsboro, Kansas. This union was blessed with two daughters and four sons, two of whom preceded him in death. Mr. and Mrs. Gaede also had the joyous privilege of commemorating their 25th wedding anniversary in 1927 at Hillsboro, as well as their golden wedding anniversary in 1952 in Enid, Okla., after which God in his sovereign love and grace gave them almost three more years to enjoy together, having lived together 53 years less 18 days.

They moved from Hillsboro to Hooker, Okla., in 1904 where they filed for land, and sojourned there until 1912 when they moved back to Hillsboro. In 1916 they moved to Fairview, Okla., where they settled on a farm northeast of the city. It was while living near Fairview, on May 11, 1919, that he together with his wife joined the Saron Mennonite church near Orienta, Okla., where he remained a faithful member until he died. In 1944 they moved to Reedley, Calif., where they stayed but two years when they moved back to Enid, Okla. Finally in 1953 they moved to Fairview where they made their home until the time of his death.

He had been suffering from what he thought was an arthritic condition for several months. About six weeks ago he was taken to the hospital at Enid. Two weeks later he was brought home to Fairview, where he grew steadily worse until the night of August 16, 1955, when he quietly departed from this life, having reached the age of 79 years, two months and 16 days.

He leaves to mourn his departure his wife; two sons, Herbert of Isabella, Okla., Clarence of San Jose, Calif.; two daughters, Linda (Mrs. Harry Wickert) of Fairview, and Dorothy (Mrs. Simon Warkentin); four brothers, Ben of Oklahoma City, Henry and Menno of Reedley, Calif., and John of Newton, Kansas; seven sisters, Mrs. John Harms of San Jose, Calif., Mrs. Katy Penner of Hillsboro, Kansas, Mrs. Dan Loewen of Shafter, Calif., Mrs. Henry Lepp of Bakersfield, Calif., Mrs. Ted Groening of Kansas City, Kansas, Mrs. Oliver Lingo of Los Angeles, Calif., and Mrs. Herny Penner, ingalls, Kansas; His stepmother, Mrs. Abraham B. Gaede, Reedley, Calif., a step-sister, Cecelia Siebel, San Jose, Calif.; 12 grandchildren, besides a host of other relatives and friends. — Mrs. A. A. Gaede and Family.

The Mennonite obituary: 1955 Sep 6 p. 560