Gering, John C. (1881-1960)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Mar 3 p. 8, 10

Birth date: 1881 May 4

text of obituary:

JOHN C. GERING

John C. Gering was born May 4, 1881 on his parents farm southeast of Freeman, South Dakota, in Turner County, where he spend a happy childhood.

He was baptized and remained a lifelong member of the Salem Mennonite church. He loved religious music, Christian literature,and had Christian mottos hanging in his home and place of business.

Early in life he showed an interest in and aptitude for music, and because of the advantage of a competent teacher staying in the home, learned to play the piano and other instruments, which gave him much pleasure throughout life. He helped organize the Childstown Band about 1905, which was one of the first such groups in the Freeman area. He served as church pianist for a number of years. Other interests included photography in the early days of the craft, and a love for reading,. He acquired a large collection of books.

In addition to his elementary education, he attended college at Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell, S. Dak. In the spirit of pioneers in the community who believed obstacles can be overcome by determination and effort, he traveled the 60 miles between his home and Mitchell many times by bicycle.Later he taught school for seven years.

Together with his brother Henry he became interested in the craft of making gold wire name pins and other articles made of wire. Many of these were sold my mail in other states and foreign countries. To advertise these products he started doing his own printing, and this hobby laid the foundation for his life work and founding of Pine Hill Printery, which he operated for over 50 years before retiring.

On April 21, 1904 he was married to Marie miller, with whom he shared life's joys and sorrows for 56 years. There were four children.

In 1910 he and his wife and daughter, together with two brothers, moved to Perkins county, South Dakota, to homestead land. They returned to Turner county after about a year and a half. He farmed for several years, printing being his hobby,until the printing business became his main occupation. He was a hard-working man, quiet and uncomplaining by nature, with a wide variety of interests and abilities.

In 1942 he became very seriously ill and submitted to an operation at Sioux Valley hospital. He recovered and to the joy of family and friends lived to enjoy a rich and satisfying period of 18 additional years. His health began to fail again several years ago, when he was restricted with the infirmities of old age. On Feb. 1, 1960, he was admitted to Freeman hospital because of a fractured hip. The existence of cancer was discovered, and he was called to rest Feb. 18, having attained the age of 78 years, nine months and 15 days.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a foster mother, four brothers, two sisters, a grandson Lawrence Graber, and three months ago by his son Harvey and daughter-in-law Ethlyeen [sic Ethyleen]. Surviving are his wife Marie; three children, Mabel, Vernon and Glenn; two brothers, Emil and Elmer; four sisters, Francis, Millie, Alma and Evelyn; and seven grandchildren. — The Famil.