Gerig, Jacob S. (1866-1964)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1964 May 7 p. 3

Birth date: 1866 Jan 28

text of obituary:

Long-Time Bishop Of Ohio Church Dies

Smithville, Ohio. — Funeral services for Rev. Jacob S. Gerig, long-time bishop of the Oak Grove Mennonite Church near here, were conducted at the church on April 29.

Rev. Gerig died April 26 at the Glendora Nursing Home at the age of 98. he had been in failing health for a number of years.

A lifelong resident of this area, he was ordained as minister of the Oak Grove church in 1896 and to the office of bishop in 1908. During his early ministry he was a leader in the Ohio Mennonite Sunday School Conference and also the Eastern A. M. Conference.

Surviving are two sons, Melvin of Smithville and Orie Benjamin of Washington, D. C.; one daughter, Mrs. Lester Hostetler of Massillon; a foster daughter, Mrs. Sadie Conrad of Smithville; three sisters, and a number of grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1964 Jun 11 p. 8

text of obituary:

BISHOP J. S. GERIG

Jacob S. Gerig was born in Green Township, Wayne County, Ohio, on Jan. 28,1866, the eldest son of Benjamin and Lydia Gerig. He died at the Glendora Nursing Home near Wooster, Ohio on April 26,1964 after a prolonged illness.

He was married to Mary Ann Smucker on Feb. 5, 1899. She preceded him in death by seven years. To this union were born three children: Melvin R. of Smithville, O.; Orie Benjamin of Washington, D. C., and Mrs. Lester (Katherine) Hostetler, of Massillon, Ohio. There is also one foster child, Mrs. Sadie Conrad.

He was ordained to the ministry in 1896 and served the Oak Grove Mennonite congregation in that capacity for 52 years. For 40 years he acted as bishop of congregations in Holmes and Stark counties. For many years he traveled in an advisory capacity and did evangelistic work throughout the United States and Canada.

He is survived by three children, seven grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at the Oak Grove Mennonite Church on April 29, with S. C. Yoder and J N. Smucker of Goshen, Ind., and Robert w. Otto officiating.